Mumbai Hit by Unseasonal Rains, Thunderstorms and Waterlogging; IMD Warns of More to Come

Mumbai: Mumbai and its adjoining suburbs were battered by intense unseasonal rain on Tuesday evening, accompanied by thunder, lightning, and strong winds, plunging large parts of the city into chaos. The sudden cloudburst led to widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls, and disruption of transport services, highlighting the city’s perennial monsoon-time vulnerabilities—only this time, before the official monsoon onset.

Several areas, including Powai, Andheri, and parts of the western suburbs, witnessed severe water accumulation. The Andheri subway was completely submerged, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to deploy emergency drainage pumps. One incident of a tree fall near the Jalvayu Complex brought traffic to a halt, although no injuries were reported. The city also witnessed one incident of a short circuit amid the downpour.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and an orange alert for other districts in Maharashtra, warning of continued heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds until May 24. The IMD cited a developing cyclonic circulation over the east-central Arabian Sea, off the Karnataka coast, as the primary cause. A low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region around May 22, which could further intensify and move northwards.

Meanwhile, train services on the Konkan Railway route were briefly disrupted in Ratnagiri district after a landslide between Vervali and Vilavade stations. Rail officials reported that a massive boulder had fallen onto the tracks around 6:30 pm, causing delays on the crucial coastal rail corridor connecting Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka. Restoration work was initiated immediately to clear the obstruction.