Mumbai Underwater: IMD Issues Red Alert
Heavy rains cripple Mumbai, canceling trains, postponing exams.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai on Wednesday, forecasting very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, as the city reels from a fifth consecutive day of torrential downpours. The relentless rains have paralyzed the Maharashtra capital, causing widespread flooding, canceling local trains, diverting flights, and prompting the postponement of Mumbai University exams.
On Tuesday, Mumbai recorded over 200 mm of rain in just 11 hours, turning streets in areas like Kurla, Dadar, Andheri, and Sion into rivers. The Mithi River surged to 3.9 meters, nearing its 4-meter danger mark, triggering the evacuation of over 400 residents from Kurla’s Kranti Nagar slum to safer shelters with assistance from the NDRF and civic teams. The IMD predicts a decrease in rainfall intensity from Thursday but has extended red alerts to Raigad and orange alerts to Thane, Palghar, and Ratnagiri.
Local train services, a lifeline for Mumbai’s commuters, faced severe disruptions, with cancellations of key suburban services like the Diva–Boisar, Boisar–Vasai Road, and Vasai Road–Diva MEMU trains. Long-distance trains, including the Jodhpur–Dadar Express and Ahmedabad–Pune Duronto, were either short-terminated or diverted, causing significant passenger inconvenience.
Also Read: Power Outage Strands Mumbai Monorail Amid Heavy Rains
A dramatic rescue unfolded Tuesday evening when two overcrowded Monorail trains stalled between stations, stranding 782 passengers. One train, stuck between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park, saw 582 passengers evacuated using snorkel ladders after a power failure disabled electricity and air-conditioning, leading to suffocation and a few passengers fainting. Another 200 passengers were safely towed back to Wadala station. One hospitalized passenger is reported stable.
Mumbai University postponed all Summer and Winter 2025 session exams scheduled for August 20, citing safety concerns amid public transport chaos. Revised dates are yet to be announced. At the city’s airport, heavy rain disrupted operations, diverting eight flights and delaying others, leaving terminals overcrowded.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) debunked a fake message claiming school and college closures on Wednesday, clarifying no such order was issued. Meanwhile, heavy rains across Maharashtra’s Konkan, Marathwada, and Western regions claimed 24 lives, with five deaths reported Tuesday. Over 1,550 people have been relocated as rivers in Ratnagiri and Raigad approach danger levels, with more rain forecast for the next two days.
Also Read: Flights Diverted as Heavy Rains Lash Mumbai
