Mumbai ground to a halt on Monday as relentless heavy rains triggered a red alert from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), forecasting extremely heavy showers in isolated areas across the city and neighboring Thane, Raigad, and Ratnagiri districts. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) responded by ordering the closure of all schools and colleges for the afternoon session, prioritizing student safety amid the deluge that has battered the city since Saturday.

The downpour, intensifying from 9 am, inundated low-lying areas like Andheri Subway, Lokhandwala Complex, and parts of Chembur, causing severe traffic disruptions. Motorists reported near-zero visibility in some areas, with waterlogged roads slowing vehicular movement to a crawl. Chembur recorded the highest rainfall at 65 mm in just one hour from 9 am, followed by Shivaji Nagar with 50 mm, according to BMC data. Over the 24 hours ending at 8 am, the eastern suburbs saw 72.61 mm of rain, western suburbs 65.86 mm, and the island city 54.58 mm, with several areas exceeding 100 mm.

Mumbai’s lifeline, its local trains, faced delays of 8 to 10 minutes on the Central Railway’s Harbour Line due to water accumulation on tracks and a failure of track-changing points between Kurla and Tilak Nagar stations. However, no train services were suspended, and the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus services continued without route diversions, officials confirmed.

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BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani urged residents to venture out only if absolutely necessary, emphasizing the risks posed by the ongoing rains. The civic body activated its disaster control helpline (1916) for emergencies and real-time updates. “The situation is under close watch, and our teams are working to mitigate flooding,” Gagrani said, as civic workers cleared drains and pumped water from submerged areas.

The IMD’s red alert extends to Tuesday for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad, with an orange alert issued for Sindhudurg. Ratnagiri faces a red alert on Monday due to forecasts of intense rainfall. The continuous downpour has raised concerns about urban flooding, with memories of the devastating 2005 Mumbai floods looming large. Social media posts on X show residents sharing images of waterlogged streets and stranded vehicles, with many criticizing the city’s drainage infrastructure.

As Mumbai braces for more rain, the BMC has deployed emergency response teams and is coordinating with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to manage potential crises. Residents are advised to stay updated via official channels and avoid flooded areas.

Also Read: Mumbai Drenched: Heavy Rains Cause Waterlogging, Traffic Snarls