Mumbai Drowns in Torrential Rains: Landslide in Vikhroli Kills Two, IMD Issues Red Alert for Six Districts

Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to a relentless monsoon fury as overnight downpours battered the city and its suburbs, marking one of the heaviest rain spells of this season. Between August 15 evening and the early hours of August 16, several areas recorded more than 200 mm rainfall, throwing normal life out of gear and prompting a red alert from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

According to IMD officials, Vikhroli topped the charts with 248.5 mm, followed by Santacruz (232.5 mm) and Sion (221 mm). Other localities like Bandra, Juhu, and Byculla also faced heavy showers. In certain pockets, rainfall intensity was extreme—Ramabai Municipal School in Ghatkopar alone reported 49 mm in just one hour.

The heavy downpour caused waterlogging across key junctions, with tracks between Tilaknagar and Kurla on the harbour line submerged, delaying suburban trains by nearly an hour. While Western and Central line services continued with minimal disruption, commuters faced trouble at Sion, Andheri, Kings Circle, and Gandhi Nagar.

Despite the civic administration’s efforts, tragedy struck in Vikhroli where a landslide claimed two lives and left two others injured. Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani rushed emergency teams to the spot and directed officials to stay on high alert. “Every department has been instructed to remain on the ground until the rain intensity reduces. Citizens’ safety is our top priority,” Gagrani said.

The Mumbai Police, meanwhile, urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain cautious in flood-prone areas. “Visibility is poor, waterlogging is widespread, and we want citizens to step out only if absolutely essential,” an advisory read.

The IMD issued a red alert for Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri, predicting more spells of moderate to intense rainfall over the next 3–4 hours. Officials warned that continued showers may aggravate flooding in low-lying zones.

Meanwhile, in Himachal Pradesh, the monsoon continues its deadly toll. With 257 lives lost so far, including 133 rain-related deaths, the hill state remains crippled by blocked roads, disrupted electricity, and collapsed water pipelines.