Mumbai: Mumbai’s Monday morning rush turned into a nightmare as the city reeled under unrelenting rainfall for the third consecutive day. The Western Express Highway (WEH) – the city’s critical north-south link – witnessed massive gridlock, with commuters on the Goregaon-to-Bandra stretch stuck in snarls lasting more than 30 minutes during peak hours.
Several low-lying areas, including Sion, Byculla, Chembur, and Kurla, reported severe waterlogging. In Nalasopara, flooded lanes resembled streams as vehicles crawled through knee-deep water. Visuals from Bandra and Gandhi Market showed motorists braving sheets of rain, while traffic on the Eastern Freeway and P D Mello Road also slowed to a standstill.
Mumbai’s suburban railway network, considered the city’s lifeline, wasn’t spared either. Central and Harbour line services were delayed by nearly ten minutes, adding to the morning chaos for office-goers.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Mumbai until Tuesday, forecasting “heavy to very heavy rainfall” with the likelihood of intense night-time spells accompanied by strong winds. Temperatures are expected to hover between 24°C and 27°C.
The gridlock extended its impact to air travel as well. IndiGo issued an early morning advisory asking flyers to allow extra time for airport travel, citing waterlogged routes. Akasa Air and Air India soon followed with similar alerts.
Meanwhile, IMD has sounded a red alert for Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Kolhapur, and Pune districts, warning of extremely heavy showers in the next 24 hours.
