Mumbai Drenched: Torrential Rains Paralyze City, Trigger Traffic Chaos and Widespread Waterlogging

Mumbai woke up to yet another day of relentless downpour as heavy rains lashed the city for the third consecutive day, bringing life to a near standstill. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the city and surrounding districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall through Tuesday. With waterlogging reported across low-lying areas and arterial roads, traffic snarls, delayed trains, and stranded vehicles dominated the Monday morning commute.

 

Traffic Turmoil: Highways and Subways Submerged

Commuters faced a nightmare on the roads as waterlogged streets turned into slow-moving streams. The Western Express Highway, one of Mumbai’s busiest corridors, was severely affected, especially near Vile Parle, where an ambulance was stranded for hours amid bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Eastern Freeway, P D Mello Road, Chembur, and Byculla also reported long delays.

 

The Andheri Subway was shut down entirely due to flooding, forcing traffic to be rerouted via Thackeray and Gokhale bridges. Similar scenes played out at Vakola Bridge, Hyatt Junction, and Khar Subway, where vehicles crawled through ankle-deep water.

 

Rail and Air Travel Hit Hard

Mumbai’s suburban railway network, the city’s lifeline, was not spared. Central and Harbour Line trains ran 10–20 minutes behind schedule, frustrating office-goers and students alike4. Airlines including IndiGo and Akasa Air issued advisories urging passengers to leave early and check flight statuses due to slow-moving traffic around Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport5.

 

Visibility on the runway was reduced, and at least one IndiGo flight faced landing difficulties due to the intense showers. The IMD has forecast continued rainfall with possible very heavy spells at night, prompting airlines to remain on high alert.

 

Schools Shut, Rescue Operations in Action

In a precautionary move, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a half-day for all schools and colleges operating in the second session. One particularly alarming incident occurred near Gandhi Market in Sion, where a Don Bosco school bus carrying six children and three adults was trapped in rising floodwaters. Matunga Police responded swiftly, rescuing all passengers within minutes and offering comfort to the shaken children1.

 

Rainfall Stats: A City Under Siege

According to IMD data, the Santacruz station recorded 99 mm of rainfall, while Colaba registered 38 mm in the past 24 hours. Chembur saw the highest hourly rainfall at 65 mm, followed by 50 mm in Shivaji Nagar4. The eastern suburbs received an average of 72.61 mm, western suburbs 65.86 mm, and the island city 54.58 mm.

 

Seasonal rainfall has already crossed 1,000 mm at both Colaba and Santacruz observatories, with Dahisar and Kandivli logging 188 mm and 150 mm respectively on Monday alone.

 

Red Alert: What It Means

The IMD’s red alert signals extremely heavy rainfall in isolated pockets, urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel and stay indoors. Neighboring districts like Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Palghar are also under red or orange alerts, with flash flood risks looming large.

 

Authorities have deployed emergency response teams and are monitoring vulnerable zones, especially in low-lying areas and near water bodies. The BMC has activated its disaster management protocols and is coordinating with police and fire services for rapid response.

 

Outlook: More Rain Ahead

The IMD predicts continued heavy rainfall through August 19, with cloudy skies and intense showers expected across South Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane. While the city remains resilient, the coming days will test its infrastructure and emergency preparedness.

 

Citizens are advised to:

Sources: OneIndia, Free Press Journal, Indian Express, Rediff:, Times Now, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Times of India