The island city and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), including Thane, Kalyan, and Palghar, were hit by torrential rains and thunderstorms starting Wednesday evening, causing severe disruptions to road and rail traffic. The sudden downpour led to waterlogging in several areas, leaving many commuters stranded for hours.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that the eastern suburbs recorded the highest rainfall at 170.58 mm in the last 24 hours (from 8 am Wednesday to 8 am Thursday), followed by the city with 117.18 mm and the western suburbs with 108.75 mm. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Mumbai, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall with gusty winds reaching up to 50 kmph.
City Resumes Normalcy Amidst Continued Alerts
By Thursday morning, the situation began to stabilize, with rail and road services gradually resuming. However, as a precautionary measure, schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar remain closed today. The BMC has advised citizens to ensure their safety amidst continued alerts for the day.
Key Developments:
- Casualties Reported: Four people lost their lives in rain-related incidents as the city faced the extreme weather.
- Restoration of Train Services: Local train services on the Central and Harbour lines resumed after disruptions on Wednesday. The main line trains are currently operating with a delay of 3-4 minutes due to rescheduled mail express movements, according to Swapnil Nila, chief spokesperson for Central Railway.
- Harbour Line Operational: Harbour line services were restored late Wednesday night after water receded between Govandi and Mankhurd. Trains are running at a restricted speed of 25 kmph for safety.
- Commuter Advisory: Authorities have urged commuters to remain inside trains and avoid stepping onto waterlogged tracks, following reports of people walking on tracks at Chunabhatti Railway Station.
- Traffic Snarls: Major areas like Kurla East, Nehru Nagar, and Chembur were waterlogged, resulting in heavy traffic congestion. Kurla Bridge experienced severe gridlock on Wednesday night.
- Bus and Flight Services Affected: BEST buses resumed services early Thursday morning, providing relief to commuters. Meanwhile, Mumbai Airport saw 14 incoming flights diverted due to the weather conditions, with IndiGo accounting for nine of these diversions.
- Landslide Incident: A landslide was reported at the Mumbra bypass around 11:30 pm on Wednesday, adding to the city’s travel woes.
- Rainfall Statistics: According to BMC data, Mumbai received 87.79 mm of rainfall in the island city, 167.48 mm in the eastern suburbs, and 95.57 mm in the western suburbs between 5 pm and 10 pm on Wednesday.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and citizens are advised to stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel. The BMC has activated its disaster management units and is working with the Mumbai Police and fire department to ensure prompt response to emergencies.
For further updates, citizens are encouraged to follow the official social media channels of BMC and the IMD.