Mumbai: Torrential rains lashed Mumbai for the second consecutive day, bringing the city to a halt with road, rail and air transport severely disrupted, and nearly 500 people evacuated from rising riverbanks. The city recorded close to 300 mm of rain in just 24 hours, prompting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to warn that the next 48 hours remain “critical.” A ‘yellow alert’ for heavy rainfall continues across Mumbai and its suburbs, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The downpour left several key areas — Borivali, Andheri, Sion, Dadar and Chembur — submerged, with waterlogging reported at Hindmata, Andheri Subway, sections of the Eastern Express Highway, Eastern Freeway and the Mumbai-Gujarat highway. Schools, colleges and most offices remained shut, while the Bombay High Court functioned only till 12.30 pm. The BMC appealed to private establishments to allow employees to work from home.
One of the biggest incidents occurred when two overcrowded Monorail trains got stuck on elevated tracks between stations. A total of 782 passengers were rescued, with some complaining of suffocation due to power and AC failure. While only one person was hospitalised and is stable, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Rising levels of the Mithi River forced the evacuation of 400–500 people, while the NDRF rescued a man being swept away in Powai. Five NDRF teams have been deployed across flood-hit localities including Kranti Nagar in Kurla. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said 525 pumps and 16 pumping stations were working round the clock to drain floodwaters. Shinde also toured affected areas, including the Mithi River and Vikhroli landslide sites, accompanied by civic and state officials.
Train services were hit hardest, with waterlogging in Sion and Kurla submerging tracks. Services between CSMT and Thane were suspended for over eight hours before resuming in the evening, though the Harbour Line remains shut. Several long-distance trains were also cancelled or rescheduled.
Air travel too was disrupted, with at least eight flights diverted and several delayed. Airlines activated low-visibility protocols, diverting flights to Surat, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
According to the BMC, Mumbai received 37% of its average August rainfall in just 54 hours between August 17 and 19. Vikhroli East recorded 268 mm, Marol 262 mm, Powai’s Passpoli 257 mm and Versova 250 mm in a single day. In the western suburbs, Chincholi reported the highest rainfall at 361 mm, while Kandivali and Dindoshi recorded 337 mm and 305 mm respectively. In south Mumbai, rain gauges at Dadar and Wadala registered 300 mm and 282 mm.
With the IMD forecasting more heavy showers for Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg under a yellow alert, and Palghar and Raigad under an orange alert, civic authorities remain on high alert to prevent further disruption in the days ahead.
