Mumbai is still in a heavy monsoon spell and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the city and surrounding regions after torrential rains disrupted normal life and flooded several areas. After one of the heaviest rainfall events of the season, the financial capital woke up to cloudy skies and fresh showers on Thursday, and more rain and thunderstorms are expected for the rest of the day.
The IMD has advised of thunderstorms and lightning and strong winds up to 30-40 kmph in the afternoon and evening. Mumbai, Thane and other districts are on alerts and the authorities are advising people to keep an eye out for heavy rain and monsoon activity is increasing along the Konkan coast.
Heavy Rainfall Brings Mumbai to a Standstill. The latest weather warning comes just a day after Mumbai had its first major monsoon disruption of the season.
According to IMD data, the Colaba observatory had an impressive 248 mm rainfall over the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and the Santacruz observatory 225 mm. Some areas also experienced higher rainfall.
Malvani was one of the worst-hit areas in terms of rain with 340 mm of rain and Parel received 334 mm in the same period. The torrent flooded drainage systems in many neighborhoods and led to extensive waterlogging in the city.
Low-lying areas such as Andheri Subway, Hindmata, King's Circle, Sion, Kurla, and other places around the city have experienced heavy flooding that has caused huge traffic congestion and forced commuters to spend hours walking along flooded roads.
Rail and Road Transport Hit Hard. Mumbai’s lifeline—the suburban train network—also faced disruptions as heavy rainfall disrupted train service on many routes.
Local train services were delayed as water accumulated on the tracks, stranding thousands of daily commuters. In addition, services on the Trans-Harbour line were also suspended due to a tunnel cave-in between Turbhe and Koparkhairane stations, making it difficult for people travelling between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
The road traffic was also affected, with several significant highways experiencing slow-moving vehicles and long lines of drivers stuck in traffic as waterlogged roads became blocked.
Emergency response teams and traffic authorities remained on high alert during the day to manage the situation and minimize disruptions. More Rain Expected across Mumbai.
Though there was some respite in some areas at the early morning hours of the day, weather officials predicted rain to continue throughout the day. The areas likely to get rain or thundershowers are: Colaba, Worli, Chembur, Santacruz, Powai, Borivali, Mulund, Thane.
Meteorologists say intermittent showers with thunder and lightning may occur at several locations during the day.
Cloud cover is expected to keep temperatures relatively comfortable. Minimum temperatures are likely to remain within 24°C to 25°C, while maximum temperatures may range from 25°C to 29°C in different parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
BMC Activates Flood Management Systems. BMC's stormwater pumping stations and dewatering infrastructure are still functioning during the heavy rainfall, said BMC’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
The pumping helped to clear up several waterlogged roads and reduce the flood duration in some of the flood-prone areas, officials said. Civic authorities warned residents that heavy rainfall could again lead to localized flooding and road traffic problems.
Citizens have been advised not to travel unnecessarily during heavy downpours, to follow official weather advisories, and to exercise caution near waterlogged areas and open drains. Monsoon activity likely to be active.
Monsoon conditions over the Konkan coast are favorable for continued rainfall over the next few days, weather experts say. The Arabian Sea branch of the southwest monsoon remains active, and moderate to heavy showers are expected throughout Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad and surrounding areas.
While the rainfall has brought much-needed relief from summer heat, it has also put a spotlight on the city’s perennial problems of monsoon storms and flooding, traffic congestion and transport disruption.
As Mumbai enters a more active phase of the monsoon season, local officials are on alert as residents brace for more rain-filled days ahead.
