Mumbai marooned: How heavy rains impacted city - trains, traffic, flights hit; 800 rescued from stranded monorails

Mumbai rains

Mumbai continued to battle the fury of the monsoon as heavy rains lashed the city for the fourth consecutive day, flooding roads, disrupting train and flight operations, leading to multiple rescue operations. Between 8.30 am on August 19 and 5.30 am on August 20, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded intense rainfall across various parts of the city, India Today reported.

The highest rainfall was reported in Vikhroli (223.5 mm), followed by Santacruz (206.6 mm), Byculla (184 mm), Juhu (148.5 mm), Bandra (132.5 mm), and Colaba (100.2 mm). Radar animation confirmed moderate to intense convection over Mumbai, signalling no immediate respite. The IMD has issued an ‘orange alert’ for Mumbai on Wednesday, while Thane, Raigad, and Pune are on red alert.

Monorail breakdowns leave many stranded

The heavy downpour also exposed vulnerabilities in Mumbai’s urban infrastructure. In two separate incidents, nearly 800 passengers were rescued from stranded monorail trains.

582 passengers were stuck between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park. Also, around 200 passengers were rescued from another stranded monorail between Acharya Atre and Wadala stations.

According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which operates the monorail, a preliminary investigation revealed that the trains were overloaded. The total weight had risen to 109 metric tons, surpassing the design capacity of 104 tons. This led to a mechanical disconnection between the power rail and current collector, disrupting power supply and halting the monorails, NDTV reported.

Flights diverted, trains halted

Transport services across Mumbai faced severe disruption. At least eight flights were diverted while many more were delayed. Also, Central Railway suspended services on the Harbour line between CSMT and Kurla, after water submerged portions of the tracks, with some areas recording nearly 17 inches of water accumulation on Tuesday.

In addition, BEST bus services were heavily impacted, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. With the Mithi river flowing above the danger mark, railway tracks in low-lying areas were flooded. Authorities evacuated 350 residents from Kurla to safer places, while five NDRF teams were deployed at Kranti Nagar and Kurla for rescue operations.

Travel advisory

Indigo airlines on Wednesday issued an advisory on X, mentioning, “While we want your journey to be as hassle-free as possible, Mother Nature has her own plans. With heavy rains expected again in Mumbai, there’s a chance this could lead to air traffic congestion and impact flight operations. While we continue doing our best to keep operations smooth, we recommend planning ahead. Any changes to your flight schedule will be shared via your registered contact details, so do ensure they’re up to date. Check your flight status on our website or app before heading to the airport. And with waterlogging and slow-moving traffic likely, allow some extra time for your commute. Stay safe on the roads, and travel prepared.”

Over 1,100 evacuated in Thane and Palghar

The rain’s impact extended beyond Mumbai to neighbouring Thane and Palghar districts, where over 1,100 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas.

In Thane district, 610 people were moved to safety from places like Katai, Nandivali Shivani Nagar, Waldhuni, and Bhopar in Kalyan taluka. Similarly, 497 residents were shifted in Palghar district.

The Ulhas river crossed the warning level at Jambhulpada and Badlapur, forcing authorities to close down the Ulhas river bridge. Traffic was also disrupted at Dahagaon as the Chandra river overflowed, and in Walkas where bridges were submerged.

Schools closed in Navi Mumbai, Panvel, and Thane

Amidst the worsening situation, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) declared a holiday for all schools on August 20, citing the red alert.

Similarly, the Panvel Municipal Corporation announced that all schools and colleges under its jurisdiction would remain closed. The Thane Municipal Corporation also declared a holiday for schools across the district. However, no such confirmation came from BMC reflecting that schools in Mumbai city limits remain open, despite heavy waterlogging in several areas, Mint reported.

Causalities in Maharashtra

The state, battered by incessant rainfall, has reported 15 deaths along with large-scale crop and property damage, according to a report by The Hindu. While seven persons died across the state on Monday, eight deaths were reported from Nanded district alone on Tuesday. Crops on 14 lakh acres of land were submerged.

Why is Mumbai receiving so much rain?

The IMD has linked the current weather pattern to a depression moving across south Odisha and Chhattisgarh on August 19, which is now weakening into a low-pressure area. Additionally, an offshore trough extending from south Gujarat to north Kerala and an upper air circulation over the northeast Arabian Sea are intensifying the monsoon activity over Maharashtra.

This combination of meteorological systems has resulted in sustained heavy downpours over Mumbai and its surrounding regions, India Today reported.