Mumbai Grapples With Severe Rainfall: Schools Closed, Train And Flight Services Hit

Heavy rains in Mumbai disrupted local train services on Central Railway routes and affected flight operations on Monday, officials reported. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced a holiday for all civic, government, and private schools and colleges to avoid inconvenience for students.

Impact on Train Services

Train services on the fast line of the main corridor between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Thane were suspended due to waterlogging, according to Swapnil Nila, chief public relations officer of Central Railway (CR). Suburban services continued on the slow line, but commuters faced delays and heavy crowds at key stations. The Harbour corridor services were also temporarily halted due to waterlogging at Chunnabhati.

The Western Railway reported suburban trains running up to 10 minutes late as water levels rose above the tracks between Matunga Road and Dadar. "High capacity water pumps are being utilised to drain water away from the railway tracks to ensure a smooth commute for Mumbaikars," a Western Railway spokesperson said.

Flight Operations Affected

At Mumbai airport, runway operations were suspended from 2:22 am to 3:40 am due to heavy rains and low visibility, leading to 27 flight diversions. Flights were redirected to cities like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Indore. Priority was given to arriving flights once operations resumed.

Bus Routes Disrupted

A spokesperson for the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking stated that at least 40 bus routes in the city and suburbs were either diverted or curtailed due to waterlogged roads. The BMC advised citizens not to believe in rumours and provided control numbers for emergency help.

Weather Forecasts and Warnings

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai. At 1:57 pm, a high tide of 4.40 meters was expected, which could exacerbate waterlogging in low-lying areas. The IMD issued a "Nowcast" warning around 10:15 am, valid for three hours, predicting moderate spells of rainfall in the city and suburbs with heavy rain at isolated places over the next 24 hours.

Rainfall Data

The BMC reported that some areas received over 300 mm of rainfall from 1 am to 7 am on Monday. In eastern Mumbai, Govandi recorded the highest rainfall at 315.6 mm, followed by Powai with 314.5 mm. In western parts, Malpa Dongri in Andheri received 292.2 mm of rain while Chakala got 278.2 mm. Pratiksha Nagar in the island city recorded 220.2 mm of rainfall.

Disaster Management Efforts

BMC's disaster management control room monitored the situation closely with municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani overseeing operations. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed in Kurla and Ghatkopar areas of Mumbai as well as other parts of Maharashtra including Thane, Vasai (Palghar), Mahad (Raigad), Chiplun (Ratnagiri), Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, and Sindhudurg.

The IMD forecasted "generally cloudy sky with moderate to heavy rain in the city and suburbs" over the next 24 hours. The BMC urged residents to stay informed through official channels and avoid unnecessary travel unless absolutely necessary.