Heavy rains disrupted daily life in Mumbai on Wednesday, diverting flights, flooding major roads across the city and disrupting railway tracks in suburban areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai until 8.30 am on Thursday.
Following the red alert, civic authorities have declared a holiday on Thursday, September 26, 2024, for schools and colleges in the city.
Three flights were diverted on Wednesday evening due to rain and poor visibility, causing delays of up to an hour for departures and landings.
Traffic congestion was reported across the city. The Mumbai Electric Supply and Transport Corporation (BEST) diverted 10 bus routes in the city due to waterlogging. Some parts of Mumbai, including Ghatkopar, Mankhad, Govandi, Vikhroli, Sewri, Wadala, Powai and Mulund, received more than 100 mm of rain on Wednesday evening.
Due to flooding of the tracks, local train services on the Central Railway were significantly affected, with trains operating at a speed limited to 30 km per hour in some sections.
The local corporation, the Briham Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has asked for the deployment of engineers and staff in control rooms and ward offices across the city.
“Due to heavy rains in Mumbai and suburban areas and waterlogging at several places between Vidyavihar and Mulund stations, operations of up and down slow trains have been affected from 20:10. We apologise for the inconvenience caused,” Central Railway said in a statement.
