IMD issues red alert, Mumbai Police warns against travel
Mumbai woke up to torrential rain on Saturday, leaving large parts of the city waterlogged and traffic paralyzed. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) upgraded its warning from an orange alert to a red alert for Mumbai, signaling extremely heavy rainfall in the coming hours.
The Mumbai Police urged residents to avoid stepping out unless absolutely necessary. In a post on X, they wrote, “Mumbai is experiencing heavy rainfall with waterlogging and reduced visibility in several areas. Mumbaikars are advised to avoid non-essential travel and to exercise caution while venturing out.”
Streets, railway tracks submerged, traffic disrupted
Heavy rain since early morning flooded several key stretches, disrupting road and rail traffic. Visuals from Sion and Bandra showed railway tracks completely submerged, while commuters struggled through waist-deep water on roads. The Mumbai Traffic Police confirmed that the tunnel from Mankhurd T Junction to Maharashtra Nagar was closed due to flooding.
Flight delays and airline advisories
Air travel was also hit as IndiGo and SpiceJet issued advisories for passengers traveling from Mumbai, asking them to check flight status before leaving for the airport. Several flights reported delays due to reduced visibility and operational challenges.
Social media flooded with rain updates
On social media, residents shared videos of near-zero visibility and cloud cover across the city. One user wrote, “The 200mm+ figures of #Mumbairains are coming in as predicted. More days of heavy rain to come, with areas like Thane, Raigad, and Navi Mumbai also getting heavy showers.”
Landslide in Vikhroli leaves two dead
Amid the relentless downpour, a landslide at Jankalyan Society in Varsha Nagar, Vikhroli (West), claimed two lives and left two others injured, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Rescue teams were deployed immediately to clear debris and assist affected residents.
Rainfall data across Mumbai
According to IMD data, Mumbai recorded extremely heavy rainfall between 8:30 am on August 15 and 5:30 am on August 16:
- Vikhroli: 248.5 mm
- Santacruz: 232.5 mm
- Sion: 221 mm
- Juhu: 208 mm
- Bandra: 173 mm
- Byculla: 158.5 mm
- Colaba: 70.4 mm
With the red alert in effect, officials warn that heavy rainfall is likely to continue in Mumbai and surrounding areas, including Thane, Raigad, and Navi Mumbai, over the next few days.
