Relentless monsoon showers continued to batter Mumbai on Saturday, prompting authorities to declare a Red Alert and roll out emergency measures across the city. With waterlogging, traffic disruptions, delayed train services and heavy rainfall affecting normal life, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced a holiday for the afternoon session in all schools and colleges to ensure student safety.
BMC Declares Holiday For Schools And Colleges
Following the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Red Alert warning of extremely heavy rainfall, the BMC suspended afternoon classes in all schools and colleges across Mumbai. Civic authorities urged parents, students and residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors unless absolutely essential.
Earlier, educational institutions in Thane, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan-Dombivli had also remained closed due to the worsening weather conditions.
Heavy Rain Causes Waterlogging And Traffic Disruptions
Persistent rainfall led to severe waterlogging in several parts of Mumbai, forcing authorities to temporarily shut the busy Andheri Subway to traffic. Low-lying areas witnessed flooding, slowing vehicular movement across the city.
Roads in Mankhurd, Ghatkopar, Chembur and several eastern suburbs also developed large potholes due to continuous rain. BMC teams remained on the ground carrying out emergency repairs despite the ongoing downpour to reduce the risk of accidents.
Local Trains, Flights Face Delays
Heavy rain and poor visibility affected transportation across Mumbai. Western Railway suburban services were reported to be running around 10 to 15 minutes behind schedule at several stations, while passengers also reported delays on other rail routes.
The adverse weather additionally impacted flight operations, with some flights delayed or diverted because of the challenging conditions.
Rainfall Crosses 100 mm, Bandra Records Highest Showers
According to civic data, several parts of Mumbai received over 100 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours. Bandra emerged as one of the wettest locations, recording more than 150 mm of rain, while Vikhroli, Ghatkopar, Mankhurd and Chembur also experienced intense showers.
The IMD has warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated spells of extremely heavy rain, is likely to continue across Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region over the weekend.
Authorities On High Alert
Emergency response teams have been deployed across vulnerable locations to clear fallen trees, monitor waterlogged areas and restore normal movement wherever possible. Officials are also closely watching the afternoon high tide, which could worsen flooding in low-lying areas.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to citizens to remain alert and follow official advisories, while the BMC asked residents to use emergency helpline numbers whenever required.
With the Red Alert remaining in force, authorities have advised Mumbaikars to avoid non-essential travel and stay updated through official weather and civic announcements as heavy rainfall is expected to persist over the next two days.
