Mumbai Paralyzed by Torrential Rain: Schools Shut, Roads Flooded, Flights Delayed

Credit: AFP

City Shuts Down Amid "Extremely Heavy" Rain Warning
Mumbai faced severe disruption on Tuesday as relentless monsoon rains triggered widespread flooding, forcing authorities to declare a holiday for all schools and colleges. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert, warning of "extremely heavy" rainfall across India's financial capital and surrounding areas.

Record Rainfall Submerges City
Official rainfall data paints a stark picture:

• Mumbai City: Over 54 mm in 24 hours
• Eastern Suburbs: 72 mm
• Western Suburbs: 65 mm

This intense downpour, continuing over several days, overwhelmed drainage systems, leading to severe waterlogging.

Transport Chaos Grips Maximum City
The city's vital transport networks suffered major setbacks:

1. Roads: Major arteries like the Eastern Freeway and Western Express Highway were severely waterlogged and choked with traffic. Visuals showed hundreds of vehicles stranded on flooded roads in Andheri, Lokhandwala, Kanjurmarg, Sion Gandhi Market, and Navi Mumbai.
2. Trains: Mumbai's lifeline, the local train network, reported delays of 15-20 minutes.
3. Buses: BEST bus services faced diversions due to flooded routes.

4. Flights: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport experienced significant disruption:

• Average flight departure delays reached 54 minutes.
• Nine go-arounds (aborted landings) were reported.
• At least one flight was diverted.

Safety Incidents and Emergency Response
A wall collapse was reported in Chembur. While no casualties occurred, BMC and fire department teams rushed to evacuate affected families. The civic body activated its emergency protocols, directing citizens to contact the BMC control room via helpline 1916 for assistance.

Authorities Urge Caution
With the red alert in force and heavy rain forecast to continue, the BMC reiterated its advisory for people to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. The focus remains on clearing waterlogged areas, managing traffic, and responding to emergencies as Mumbai battles the intense monsoon fury.