Mumbai: The financial capital of India woke up to a nightmare on Monday morning as relentless downpours lashed the city, leaving large parts submerged under knee-deep water. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert, officials have warned of “intense to very intense rainfall” in the next few hours, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds.
What began as an early morning shower soon turned into a citywide crisis. Byculla, Mahalaxmi, Sion, and Kings Circle resembled mini-lakes, with vehicles stranded, pedestrians wading through murky water, and traffic brought to a near standstill. The iconic Andheri Subway had to be closed after waterlogging made it impassable, forcing commuters to reroute via the already overburdened Gokhale Bridge, which itself choked under the traffic rush.
The Eastern Express Highway, one of Mumbai’s arterial lifelines, witnessed massive congestion, with multiple lanes submerged. Frustrated commuters stuck for hours vented their anger on social media, posting visuals of vehicles half-submerged in water.
Public transport — the city’s heartbeat — also faced a major blow. Local trains on the Central and Harbour lines ran late by 15 minutes, while several services on the Harbour route were cancelled altogether. The situation worsened when a Monorail got stranded near Wadala due to a technical snag amid heavy showers, leaving passengers stuck for over an hour. Fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and rescued them safely, marking the second such monorail disruption in a month.
Inside neighbourhoods, the picture was no different. Narrow lanes in Mahalaxmi and Byculla were flooded, trapping vehicles and forcing residents to remain indoors. In many low-lying pockets, shopkeepers were seen desperately trying to prevent rainwater from entering their establishments.
Sensing the escalating situation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued an urgent advisory, asking residents to avoid non-essential travel, keep away from waterlogged stretches, and immediately report emergencies through its 24×7 helpline. Emergency teams have been deployed across South Mumbai and Eastern Suburbs with pumping machines and rescue equipment on standby.
The IMD has warned that the heavy showers are far from over. “Mumbai is likely to experience continuous downpour throughout the day, with the possibility of thunderstorms and gusty winds,” the weather office said. With schools and offices struggling to function, many fear that the chaos could worsen if rainfall intensity continues.
