Image Source: Curly Tales
Mumbai woke up to chaos this morning as relentless overnight rainfall triggered widespread waterlogging across the city, bringing its lifeline—the suburban railway network—to a grinding halt. The Harbour Line, one of the three major suburban rail corridors, bore the brunt of the disruption, with services suspended between Chunnabhatti (CLA) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) until further notice2.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and surrounding regions, warning of “very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall” accompanied by gusty winds reaching up to 60 kmph. The downpour, which began late Monday night, intensified through the early hours of Tuesday, flooding low-lying areas and submerging key railway tracks.
Harbour Line Hit Hard
At the heart of the disruption lies Chunnabhatti station, where water levels rose rapidly, making it unsafe for train operations. Central Railway officials confirmed that services between CLA and CSMT were suspended due to track inundation and poor visibility. Commuters traveling from Panvel and Navi Mumbai faced partial suspensions, further straining connectivity to South Mumbai2.
The suspension has left thousands stranded during peak hours, with long queues forming at bus stops and auto stands. Many passengers were seen wading through ankle-deep water to reach alternate transport options, while others took to social media to express frustration and share visuals of submerged platforms and halted trains.
Main Line and Western Line Status
While Harbour Line services were halted, the Main Line between CSMT and Thane also faced indefinite suspension due to flooding at multiple junctions including Dadar and Matunga. Central Railway announced shuttle services between Thane and outstation routes such as Karjat, Khopoli, and Kasara to manage the rush, but delays of 30–45 minutes were reported across the board4.
Western Railway, often more resilient during monsoons, managed to keep its services running, albeit with minor delays. Officials stated that visibility issues and water accumulation at Andheri and Jogeshwari slowed train movement, but operations continued with caution.
Citywide Impact and Civic Response
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) responded swiftly by declaring a holiday for all government and semi-government offices. Private establishments were urged to allow employees to work from home. Schools and colleges were shut, and Mumbai University postponed 32 scheduled exams to August 23.
Key roads including Hindmata, Sion, and Chembur were submerged, causing traffic snarls and forcing motorists to abandon vehicles mid-route. In Thane and Kalwa, frustrated passengers climbed down onto the tracks and began walking in groups to reach their destinations4.
The IMD’s nowcast warning at 10:15 AM predicted continued intense rainfall for the next 3–4 hours, raising concerns about further disruptions. High tides of 3.75 meters at 9:16 AM and another expected at 8:53 PM are likely to worsen the situation.
Emergency Measures and Public Advisory
Emergency response teams, including engineers, pump operators, and health staff, have been deployed across vulnerable zones. High-capacity pumps are working to clear waterlogged tracks, and the BMC’s control room remains active at helpline number 1916 for immediate assistance.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, stay indoors, and refrain from spreading rumors. The civic body emphasized that all efforts are being made to restore normalcy, but safety remains the top priority.
Sources: Free Press Journal, Lokmat Times, IndiaTV News, NewsBytes, MSN India, Times of India, Hindustan Times
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