Mumbai rain mayhem: 8 flights diverted, Harbour Line services suspended, govt offices shut

All government and semi-government offices in Mumbai will remain closed on Tuesday in view of the extremely heavy rainfall warning issued by the weather department, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

The civic body also appealed to all private establishments across Mumbai to allow their employees to work from home and avoid unnecessary travel.

Several parts of Mumbai received more than 200 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours, with Vikhroli in the eastern suburbs reporting the highest downpour at 255.5 mm, the the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday. The IMD issued a red alert for Mumbai and surrounding districts, warning of “extremely heavy” downpours in some areas.

Flights services disrupted

At least eight flights were diverted and many were delayed at the Mumbai airport as heavy rains battered the city, inundating several areas on Tuesday.

The intensity of the rainfall also affected Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, a critical travel hub.

Airlines issue advisory

Indigo Airlines issued a travel advisory on Tuesday, saying, "With Mumbai drenched in heavy showers, several routes to the airport are witnessing waterlogging and sluggish traffic. This has, in turn, led to operational challenges, with delays in both departures and arrivals and we truly regret the inconvenience this may cause..."

 Local train services hit

The Central Railway suspended its local train services on the harbour line between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kurla stations due to submergence of tracks in a section after heavy rains, officials said.

It also suspended the services on its main line between Kurla and Sion stations as the rail tracks got waterlogged, they said.

A Western Railway spokesperson said their suburban services were running a little late due to poor visibility.

Considering the situation, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti appealed to people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

Schools, colleges shut

In response, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced that all schools and colleges in Mumbai would remain closed on Tuesday, August 19, to ensure student safety. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the city had received 177 mm of rainfall in just six to eight hours on Monday, urging citizens to remain cautious as more intense showers, coupled with high tides, were expected.

Overnight rain

Mumbai recorded over 180 mm of rain overnight, with several pockets receiving particularly high volumes. Between 8.30 pm on Monday and 5.30 am on Tuesday, rainfall levels were measured at:

• Vikhroli: 255.5 mm
• Santacruz: 238.2 mm
• Juhu: 173.5 mm
• Byculla: 167.0 mm
• Bandra: 157.0 mm
• Colaba: 79.8 mm
• Mahalaxmi: 71.9 mm

Waterlogging issues

The heavy downpour added to waterlogging woes in multiple parts of the city, including chronic flooding spots like Hindmata and King's Circle where BMC has already spent crores on underground rainwater-holding tanks over the last few years. Train services on the Harbour Line were running with slight delays on Monday following heavy rain and waterlogging at Mankhurd, Govandi, Kurla, and Tilak Nagar stations.

Schools and colleges remain shut

The BMC has announced that all schools and colleges in Mumbai will remain closed on Tuesday. This decision comes as a precautionary measure to protect children and staff from unsafe travel conditions caused by waterlogging and heavy showers.

Statewide red and orange alerts

The IMD has sounded a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Satara, Kolhapur districts, while an orange alert has been issued for Jalna, Beed, Pune, and Chandrapur.

CM Devendra Fadnavis highlighted that rainfall activity was not confined to Mumbai but spread across Maharashtra. He stated that nearly half of the state’s districts remain under red or orange alerts until August 21, with alerts issued for Thane, Raigad, and several other regions, The Indian Express reported.

Loss of lives

The ongoing deluge has already claimed lives. CM Fadnavis asserted that seven people have died so far due to rain-related incidents across Maharashtra. Several rivers in the Konkan region have risen dangerously, while districts such as Jalgaon have reported extensive damage to property and infrastructure.

Farmers suffer the loss

Farmers, too, have borne the brunt of nature’s fury. Crops cultivated on nearly 4 lakh hectares of farmland have been destroyed, leading to fears of long-term economic distress. The Chief Minister assured that losses would be assessed thoroughly before compensation and aid packages were rolled out to affected farmers, The Indian Express reported.

Tourists removed

Tourists have been removed from several areas in Mumbai including the Powai Lake following the heavy downpour in the city. The water level of the lake has gone up posing a danger to the tourists and as a result, all people in and around the area have been shifted to safer places, India Today reported.