Mumbai Airport Flight Operations Halted Due To Heavy Rainfall: More Downpour Expected

Heavy rainfall has caused significant disruptions in Mumbai, notably impacting operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The intense downpour led to poor visibility, resulting in a temporary suspension of flight services at 10:36 AM. Flights resumed just 19 minutes later, once visibility improved to 1000 meters and the Runway Visual Range (RVR) reached 1200 meters.

Air India responded swiftly by issuing an advisory on social media, cautioning passengers about potential delays for flights to and from Mumbai. The airline urged travelers to allow extra time for their journey to the airport due to anticipated slow traffic and waterlogging.

In addition to the airport disruptions, the Andheri subway has been closed to vehicular traffic because of severe waterlogging, exacerbating the city’s traffic congestion.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a nowcast warning at 10:00 AM, predicting intense rainfall across Mumbai and surrounding areas, including Thane, Raigad, and parts of Pune for the next few hours.

Railway services have also been affected, with the Panvel-Chouk line suspended since 09:42 AM due to flooding. As a result, Train No. 12126 has been rerouted via Kalyan. Central Railway officials reported that local trains are running at reduced speeds due to poor visibility and high winds.

Waterlogging has been reported in several areas, including the Bhandup pumping station, Vikhroli, and near King Circle. A tree uprooted near Matoshree Bungalow in Bandra East at around 6 AM led to the temporary diversion of BEST buses for approximately an hour.

The city’s infrastructure is currently strained as it grapples with the effects of the heavy rains.