MUMBAI, Aug. 18 — Mumbai woke up to torrential rains on Monday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for the city and adjoining Thane and Raigad districts. With waterlogging reported across several areas and visibility hampered, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for schools and colleges operating in the second shift.
Officials said roads in Andheri, Lokhandwala, Vakola bridge, Khar subway, and Hyatt Junction were inundated, forcing traffic diversions. Both lanes of the Andheri subway remained closed for the day, with vehicles routed via Thackeray and Gokhale bridges.
Local train services — the city’s lifeline — were delayed by about 10 minutes. On the Central Railway’s Harbour Line, services were hit due to water on tracks and a technical snag between Kurla and Tilak Nagar. Still, no major suspension was reported.
Airlines also warned of delays. Akasa Air and IndiGo issued advisories urging passengers to keep extra travel time in hand, citing traffic congestion on roads leading to the airport. “If you are catching a flight today, head out early and keep track of updates,” IndiGo posted on X.
In its morning bulletin, the IMD reported that Santacruz recorded 99 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am, while Colaba observatory registered 38 mm. The department warned of extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over the next two days.
Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said the decision to shut schools and colleges was taken keeping student safety in mind. “Continuous rains since morning have led to waterlogging in many areas. Classes post noon stand cancelled,” BMC posted on X.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti cautioned citizens against non-essential travel. “Incidents of waterlogging and reduced visibility are being reported from multiple areas. Please avoid stepping out unless necessary. Our officials are on alert to assist in emergencies,” he wrote on X, sharing helpline numbers.
Commuters reported slow traffic movement across arterial roads as rain continued to lash the city. Motorists in low-lying areas faced long snarls, while pedestrians waded through knee-deep water in some pockets.
With the IMD warning of more heavy downpours, the city remained on edge as authorities monitored vulnerable spots and urged residents to plan travel carefully.
