Heavy Rains Batter Mumbai; Waterlogging Disrupts Traffic, Delays Over 250 Flights

Heavy Rains Paralyse Mumbai; Flights, Trains Disrupted, Offices Shut.

Relentless downpour continued to cripple Mumbai on Tuesday, with widespread waterlogging and major disruptions across the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai and its suburbs.

According to Flightradar data, 155 departing flights and 102 arrivals at Mumbai airport were delayed. IndiGo Airlines issued a travel advisory citing waterlogged routes to the airport and sluggish traffic as the main causes of disruption.

In response, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for all government, semi-government, and civic offices—excluding essential services—and urged private establishments to implement work-from-home to ensure safety. Schools and colleges were also shut, while the Directorate of Higher Education extended the holiday to institutions across Maharashtra’s Konkan belt, including Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg.

Train services on the Central Railway were running 20–30 minutes late due to waterlogging on tracks and poor visibility. Vehicular traffic was severely affected, with roads in Andheri, Sion, Dadar TT, and Mumbai Central submerged, forcing commuters to wade through knee-deep water. Hindmata, Andheri Subway, Eastern Express Highway, and Vasai were among the worst-hit areas.

In Vasai, heavy flooding in Vasant Nagari, Evershine Road, and Mithagar trapped 200–400 people, officials said.

Rainfall data for the 24 hours ending 8 am Tuesday showed Vikhroli recording the highest at 255.5 mm, followed by Byculla (241 mm), Santacruz (238.2 mm), Juhu (221.5 mm), and Bandra (211 mm). Colaba and Mahalaxmi also received significant showers.

Authorities have urged residents to avoid non-essential travel as the city braces for more heavy rain.