Red alert in Mumbai: IMD warns of intense rain after 500mm downpour in just 84 hours; city reels under flooding, delays

NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a fresh red alert for Mumbai and Raigad early this morning, forecasting intense spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds reaching up to 65 kmph.

This marks the second consecutive day of red alert for Mumbai, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to declare a holiday for all schools and colleges across the city and its suburbs.The city has been battered by intense monsoon showers since early Monday, recording over 500 mm of rainfall within 84 hours. The downpour caused widespread waterlogging in several areas, including Chembur, Dadar, Hindmata, Andheri, and King’s Circle, disrupting daily life and raising fresh concerns about the city’s flood preparedness.

Despite crores spent on underground stormwater tanks and upgraded drainage systems, chronic flooding points remained submerged for hours.Read more: Mumbai Rains Live Updates: Red alert sounded for today; schools, colleges to remain closed in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Palghar; 7 dead in MaharashtraTwo deaths were reported on Monday — one due to a compound wall collapse at Napean Sea Road and another by electrocution in Kanjurmarg. A man who entered the Mithi River is still missing. Another individual was injured in a tree fall in Sahar. Road traffic slowed to a crawl in many parts of the city, and train services across the Central, Harbour, and Western lines suffered major delays, with some trains running an hour late.

At the airport, poor visibility and rain led to at least 10 flights executing go-arounds and one being diverted.Mumbai University has postponed 32 exams that were scheduled for today, rescheduling them to August 23. The ripple effects of the alert have reached beyond city limits, with civic authorities in Navi Mumbai, Thane, Mira Bhayandar, and Palghar also announcing closures of schools and colleges.In the face of severe waterlogging, the BMC has deployed its entire field machinery.

Engineers, pump operators, and emergency response teams have been stationed at key flood-prone locations. With further rain forecast and the red alert still in place, Mumbai is bracing for continued disruption. This marks the city’s most severe monsoon alert so far this season, and civic authorities are under pressure to prevent further escalation as rainfall continues.Residents have been urged to remain indoors unless travel is absolutely essential. Emergency services remain on standby, and the civic helpline 1916 has been activated to assist citizens.