The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for very heavy rainfall in Mumbai and adjoining districts on Wednesday, August 20, after relentless downpours crippled the financial capital for the fifth straight day. The city recorded over 200 mm of rain in just 11 hours on Tuesday, leading to flooding, massive traffic snarls, power outages and widespread disruption of public services.
The IMD has forecast intense to very intense spells of rain with gusty winds of 40–50 kmph, reaching up to 60 kmph, across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts. While Raigad remains under a red alert, Thane, Palghar and Ratnagiri have been placed under an orange alert. Officials, however, expect rainfall intensity to gradually reduce from Thursday.
Mumbai’s suburban railway network, considered the city’s lifeline, was severely hit. Central Railway’s harbour line remained suspended for over 15 hours before services resumed at 3 am on Wednesday. Mainline operations between CSMT and Thane restarted late Tuesday evening, but delays continue across Central and Western Railway routes. Several long-distance trains were short-terminated or diverted, causing inconvenience to passengers.
Air travel was equally chaotic, with at least eight flights diverted on Tuesday and many more delayed due to poor visibility and waterlogging at the airport.
In a dramatic rescue operation, more than 782 passengers were evacuated after two overcrowded Monorail trains broke down between stations. One passenger was hospitalised after fainting due to suffocation when electricity and air-conditioning systems failed, though her condition is reported stable.
The University of Mumbai postponed all examinations scheduled for August 20, citing student safety amid severe transport disruptions. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) dismissed rumours of school closures, clarifying that no such order had been issued.
Floodwaters submerged streets in Kurla, Andheri, Sion and Dadar, turning roads into rivers and forcing evacuations. The Mithi River swelled to 3.9 metres—just shy of its 4-metre danger mark—prompting the evacuation of more than 400 residents from low-lying slum clusters in Kurla’s Kranti Nagar.
Across Maharashtra, heavy rains have claimed 24 lives so far, with five fresh fatalities reported on Tuesday, including three in Nanded and one each in Mumbai and Beed. Over 1,550 people have been shifted to safer locations in four districts, while rivers in Ratnagiri and Raigad continue to flow near danger levels.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)