Mumbai woke up to another day of disruption on Tuesday as overnight downpours measuring up to 185 mm left vast areas of the city waterlogged, forcing the closure of schools and colleges. Civic officials confirmed that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ordered a precautionary holiday across all educational institutions after the India Meteorological Department upgraded its advisory to a red alert for the metropolis and surrounding districts.
The relentless rain paralysed daily life across Mumbai’s western and eastern suburbs, with Vikhroli recording the highest 194.5 mm rainfall, followed closely by Santacruz at 185 mm and Juhu at 173.5 mm. In central Mumbai, Byculla reported 167 mm while the southern tip at Colaba recorded relatively lower showers at 79.8 mm. Officials noted that the sheer intensity of rainfall in short bursts was the primary cause of flooding in low-lying areas. Transport infrastructure, the lifeline of the city, suffered immediate stress. The Andheri subway was completely shut for traffic due to waist-deep water, while Khar and Vakola subways also witnessed severe waterlogging. Traffic police diverted vehicles through alternate routes, leading to congestion across arterial roads including the Western Express Highway and Eastern Freeway. Suburban train services on the Harbour Line reported delays, with waterlogging at Mankhurd, Govandi, Kurla, and Tilak Nagar. Airlines operating from Mumbai airport also advised passengers to plan extra travel time owing to gridlock on approach roads.
Emergency teams worked overnight to pump out water in flood-prone zones including Matunga, Gandhi Market at Sion, and parts of the island city. Officials emphasised that disaster management control rooms were on high alert, coordinating with state and central agencies. In the wider state, more than 200 villagers in Nanded were rescued by military teams after heavy flooding cut off access. The toll of the extreme weather has already proven deadly. At least seven people have died across Maharashtra in rain-related incidents over the past 24 hours. Experts warn that rising river levels in the Konkan belt and extensive crop damage in rural districts highlight the vulnerability of both urban and agrarian economies to erratic monsoon behaviour.
Urban planners argue that while Mumbai’s drainage system is capable of managing regular monsoon showers, climate-induced bursts of extreme rainfall expose its chronic infrastructural deficits. Experts stress the urgency of building climate-resilient cities that can absorb shocks without paralysing public life, calling for expanded green cover, stormwater recycling, and stronger enforcement against unplanned construction in flood zones. For now, authorities have urged residents to stay indoors unless necessary. With red alerts extended to Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Kolhapur, and Pune until later this week, the monsoon continues to underline the pressing need for sustainable, adaptive, and equitable urban planning across Maharashtra.
Also Read: BMC Announces School, College Holiday In Mumbai, Thane, Palghar
