(Image source from: PTI)
With rain continuing in Mumbai, the India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for the city on Monday and a red alert for various coastal districts in Maharashtra, including Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Kolhapur, and Pune. There are reports of water accumulation in several locations within Mumbai. Images show flooding at Gandhi Market in Sion. In addition, there were significant traffic jams on the Western Expressway in Vile Parle, which connects Mumbai’s downtown area to its outskirts. The BMC has announced a day off for all schools following the heavy rainfall. Given the alert, the Chief of Greater Mumbai Police urged people to be careful, stating, "As the heavy rain persists under the Orange Alert, we are receiving reports of flooding and decreased visibility in various areas." He also cautioned against unnecessary travel.
Airlines like Akasa Air and IndiGo have provided travel advice, suggesting passengers allocate more time as some routes to the Mumbai airport are congested. "Please refrain from unnecessary trips, plan your journey carefully, and only leave home if you must. Our teams are alert and prepared to help you. In case of emergencies, please call 100 / 112 / 103," said a tweet from the Greater Mumbai police chief. In a message on X, Akasa Air stated, “Due to heavy rain in parts of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa, and Pune, we expect slow traffic and delays on the roads leading to the airport. To guarantee a smooth travel experience, we advise you to allow extra time to arrive at the airport for your flight.” IndiGo mentioned that its airport team would assist travelers along the way. “The rain is still affecting Mumbai, and road travel is hindered in some areas. Traffic is slow on certain routes to the airport due to ongoing rain and water accumulation. If you are flying today, we suggest leaving early and checking your flight updates through our app and website. Our airport staff are ready to provide assistance,” IndiGo posted on X. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Sunday, six short circuits, 19 instances of trees or branches falling, and two wall collapses occurred in the city. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in these incidents. In its monsoon summary, the civic body noted that the island city, eastern suburbs, and western suburbs received average rainfalls of 23.81 mm, 25.01 mm, and 18.47 mm, respectively, between 8 am and 6 pm on Sunday.
Following heavy rains on Saturday, the intensity of the rain lessened on Sunday morning, bringing light showers and some heavy spells, with no significant waterlogging reported, as stated by the IMD earlier. Local trains on the Central Railway in Mumbai experienced slight delays in the morning, although officials did not provide a reason for this. There were no changes to the BEST bus service routes, according to reports. Torrential rainfall lashed Mumbai and its surrounding areas on Saturday, with certain locales registering upwards of 200 mm of precipitation during the early morning hours, leading to the submersion of lower-elevation zones.
Tragically, two individuals lost their lives, and two more suffered injuries due to a landslide that occurred amidst the ongoing rainfall in the Vikhroli Parksite vicinity, situated in the eastern outskirts on Saturday. The suburban train network also experienced substantial disruptions as a result of water accumulation on the rails at various points along both the Central and Western Railway routes.
