Heavy rain hit Mumbai and its suburbs early Monday morning, causing widespread flooding on major roads and low-lying areas. This led to severe traffic jams and disrupted daily life. Civic officials said the city received over 300 mm of rain in different areas between 1 am and 7 am.
Several neighborhoods, including Andheri, Kurla, Bhandup, King’s Circle, and Dadar, experienced severe water accumulation. The continuous downpour overwhelmed storm drains, bringing traffic to a halt in many parts of India’s financial hub. Vehicles were seen floating in the water in some areas, while residents navigated through knee-deep waters.
School Closures and Transportation Disruptions
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation declared a holiday for government and private schools and colleges within its jurisdiction. The heavy rain also disrupted suburban train services and the BEST bus services. Several BEST buses were rerouted, according to officials.
Maharashtra: Mumbai has recorded over 300 mm of rainfall at various places in six hours from 1 am to 7 am today. Heavy rains in some low-lying areas led to waterlogging and disruption of suburban train services. Heavy rain is also expected today. In order to avoid inconvenience…
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2024
Several trains cancelled
The Central Railway announced the cancellation of several trains, including MMR-CSMT (12110), Pune-CSMT (11010), Pune-CSMT Deccan (12124), Pune-CSMT Deccan (11007), and CSMT-Pune Intercity Express (12127).
Airline Advisory
In light of the adverse weather conditions, Vistara airline issued an advisory, urging passengers to plan their journey to the airport carefully. “Heavy traffic congestion and slow vehicle movement are expected en route to Mumbai Airport today due to weather conditions. Customers are advised to allow more time for their journey to the airport,” the airline stated.
Highways and key roads that were not submerged saw heavy traffic during Monday morning rush hours. Footage from the Western Expressway showed long lines of vehicles struggling to move forward.
Weather officials have predicted continued heavy rainfall in the city in the coming hours.