Heavy rain soaks Mumbai amid IMD's orange alert; traffic disruptions likely

Mumbai woke up to another rainy morning on Wednesday as continuous showers continued to soak the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Mumbai and surrounding districts, warning of more heavy rainfall.

According to the IMD forecast, the city and its suburbs will have cloudy skies and receive heavy rain throughout the day, Times Now reported. Gusty winds with speeds of 40 to 50 kmph are also expected.

The weather department has already issued an orange alert for Thursday, predicting rainfall of more than 150 mm, Free Press Journal reported. Residents, especially those in low-lying areas, are advised to remain careful and avoid unnecessary travel. People are also urged to make their daily plans with caution, keeping in mind possible disruptions due to rain and waterlogging.

Mumbai has recorded over 100 mm of rain for two days in a row now. In the city’s suburban areas, more than 200 mm of rainfall has been recorded over the past two days. This has helped reduce the rainfall deficit that had built up earlier in July.

However, heavy showers on Tuesday caused widespread waterlogging in several parts of the city, leading to delays in local train services, particularly on the Central and Harbour lines. Some AC coaches even saw rainwater seep inside, causing discomfort to commuters.

Flight operations were also affected on Tuesday, with airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air advising travellers to check flight status and reach the airport early, Times Now reported.

Experts say the return of heavy rainfall is due to active weather systems, including a cyclonic circulation and an east-west trough. A fresh low-pressure area may also form over the north Bay of Bengal around July 24, which could further intensify the rain.