Mumbai continues to reel under heavy rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for the city and nearby coastal districts on Monday. Widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls, delayed trains, flight disruptions, and school closures marked another chaotic day for residents.

The IMD’s red alert extends to Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Kolhapur, and Pune, warning of “extremely heavy” rainfall in isolated areas. Sindhudurg remains under orange alert. According to the weather bureau, the city is likely to experience moderate to heavy showers throughout the day, with strong winds and intense downpours expected during the night. Daytime temperatures were recorded between 24°C and 27°C.

As rainfall showed no signs of stopping, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a public holiday for all schools and colleges on Monday. Institutions scheduled to open post-noon were instructed to remain shut.

“Please avoid non-essential travel, plan your commute with care, and step out only if necessary. Our officials and staff are on high alert and ready to assist. In case of any emergency, please dial 100 / 112 / 103,” the Greater Mumbai police chief said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), urging citizens to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.

Waterlogged in Low-Lying Area

The heavy showers triggered multiple civic issues across the city, including waterlogging in low-lying areas such as Gandhi Market in Sion, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri Subway, and parts of Navi Mumbai. Traffic congestion gripped key roads like the Eastern Freeway and the Western Express Highway, with commuters stuck for hours in several parts of the city.

Air traffic also faced disruptions. Airlines like IndiGo and Akasa Air issued advisories, urging passengers to allocate extra time for reaching the airport due to severe road congestion.

In its advisory, Akasa Air stated: “Due to heavy rainfall in certain parts of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa, and Pune, we anticipate slow-moving traffic and congestion on roads leading to the airport. To ensure a seamless travel experience, we request you to plan for additional travel time to reach the airport well in time for your flight.”

Meanwhile, IndiGo informed fliers: “If you are catching a flight today, we recommend heading out early and keeping an eye on your flight updates via our app and website. Our airport teams are standing by and ready to help you along the way.”

Flights Disrupted

According to aviation sources, nine aircraft had to perform go-arounds due to poor visibility, while at least one flight was diverted. Flightradar24, a global flight tracker, reported an average delay of 54 minutes for departures from Mumbai.

Mumbai’s suburban rail network, which serves as the city’s transport backbone, also experienced delays. Local trains on the Central line were running behind schedule by 15–20 minutes. Officials, however, did not cite any specific reason for the delay. On the other hand, bus services operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) remained largely unaffected, although diversions were issued in isolated areas.

The city received an average of 54.58 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours. The eastern suburbs recorded 72.61 mm, while the western suburbs saw 65.86 mm. Chembur alone reported 65 mm of rainfall in just one hour, making it one of the worst-hit localities on Monday. Shivaji Nagar followed with 50 mm in the same period.

While Saturday’s torrential rains had already caused widespread chaos, Sunday saw only intermittent showers. However, the downpour resumed in full force early Monday, overwhelming drainage systems and flooding streets once again. Visuals shared online showed cars submerged and traffic at a standstill across various parts of the city.

In a 10-hour span on Sunday, between 8 am and 6 pm, rainfall readings showed 23.81 mm in the island city, 25.01 mm in eastern suburbs, and 18.47 mm in the western suburbs. The IMD noted a temporary drop in intensity on Sunday morning, but warned of continued spells through the week.

Adding to the crisis, the BMC reported six incidents of short circuits, 19 cases of trees or branches falling, and two wall collapse incidents on Sunday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in these events.

However, tragedy struck over the weekend when two individuals lost their lives and two others sustained injuries due to a landslide in Vikhroli Parksite in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs.

Emergency teams have been placed on standby as the city braces for continued rainfall. Citizens have been advised to monitor weather updates, avoid waterlogged zones, and call emergency services when required.