Red alert issued for Mumbai as heavy rains trigger widespread flooding; expect waterlogging and traffic disruptions

Mumbai is currently experiencing heavy monsoon with relentless rains battering the city for the fourth consecutive day. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall.

If reports are to go by, the city is currency battling flooded streets, disrupted transport, and overflowing lakes. Also, if you are travelling in and out of Mumbai, head out early so as to avoid traffic congestions. Reports also suggest that several flights have been delayed. So for any upcoming trips, cross check with concerned airlines before heading out.Keeping the current situation in mind, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in Mumbai city and suburbs on Tuesday, August 19.Monday, August 18, witnessed intense rainfall with the city recording a staggering 177 mm of rainfall in just six hours. As per reports, overnight, it escalated to 185 mm and more in parts of the city. Areas like Vikhroli saw 194.5 mm, Santacruz 185 mm, and Juhu 173.5 mm between 8:30 p.m. Monday and 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. This deluge caused Vihar Lake—one of the city's key water sources—to overflow. This overflow, however, turned out to be a silver lining for Mumbai's water stock.

Due to the intense rainfall, the city experienced severe waterlogging in low-lying neighborhoods like Andheri Subway, Lokhandwala Complex, Chembur, Sion, Matunga, and Khar Subway. As reported on several social media platforms, places like Gandhi Market experienced flooding, vehicles wading through knee-deep water and pedestrians navigating submerged roads.As per reports, local train services faced delays of 10-20 minutes due to waterlogged tracks and signal failures.

Similar delays were seen for bus routes as routes were diverted in flooded areas like Chembur and Sion. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport also reportedly experienced delayed flights.It is also reported that, apart from Mumbai, red alerts also cover places like Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Kolhapur, and Pune.There’s also an orange alert for neighboring states like Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala. With intense monsoon around, travellers and residents are advised to plan their travels smartly in case of unavoidable circumstances. However, if possible, avoid unnecessary travel.