Heavy rain hits Mumbai flight barge stranded near Mahim
Mumbai was lashed by heavy rainfall on Wednesday, bringing parts of the city to a standstill with waterlogged roads, traffic disruptions, and stranded infrastructure.
The relentless showers affected daily life, prompting low-cost airline SpiceJet to issue a travel advisory, cautioning passengers of potential delays and advising them to check their flight status online. The airline posted the update on social media platform X, stating that “due to bad weather in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected.” The advisory comes as the city grapples with another round of intense monsoon rains, impacting air and road travel alike. In a separate incident linked to the downpour, a barge engaged in Mumbai’s Coastal Road project drifted and got stuck in mud off the Mahim coast. The vessel was spotted near Hinduja Hospital. Officials confirmed that efforts are underway to refloat the barge during high tide with the help of technical teams.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted continued moderate to heavy rainfall across Mumbai and its suburbs, warning of possible thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in isolated pockets. On Tuesday, heavy showers had already flooded key areas including the Khar locality and parts of Swami Vivekananda Road, leading to slow traffic and delays during peak hours. Meanwhile, the IMD updated its national monsoon forecast, stating that the country is now expected to receive 106% of the Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall between June and September, a slight increase from its earlier projection of 105%. Central and South Peninsular India are likely to see above-normal rainfall, while Northeast and East India could face below-normal levels. For Mumbai, the combination of ongoing monsoon activity and urban infrastructure stress is expected to continue posing challenges.
Commuters are advised to plan their travel in advance, stay updated on weather alerts, and exercise caution during periods of heavy rainfall.
