Heavy rainfall drenched Mumbai on Monday, resulting in up to 300 millimetres of rain within a few hours, marking the city’s most significant single-day precipitation since 2019. The deluge turned streets into rivers and railway tracks into impromptu waterways, disrupting daily life across Mumbai and neighboring districts. Schools, colleges, and commuters faced closures and challenges navigating through waterlogged roads and train stations.
Amidst the chaos, social media platforms were flooded with videos and photos capturing the havoc. One particularly memorable video showed fish swimming in the flooded railway tracks, sparking jokes and memes comparing the stations to an unexpected aquatic habitat.
Indian Railways ❌ Indian Waterways ✅
Heavy Rainfall Effect in Mumbai, Marine species on a tour to unexplored location 😂 #IndianRailways pic.twitter.com/q0yaqup0ZQ— Trains of India (@trainwalebhaiya) July 9, 2024
“That’s a collaboration between railway ministry and fisheries department. It’s a multi-purpose project for employment generation and income enhancement for stranded passengers of delayed trains,” joked one user.
Another commented, “First time in my life I am seeing marine fish live on railway tracks bhaiya. Climate change and global warming can play havoc in future,” while a third chimed in, “India is such a diverse country. Its ecosystem is mesmerizing.”
“These are catfish, and during the monsoon, they often emerge from canals and other water bodies,” explained one social media user, shedding light on the aquatic invaders now navigating Mumbai’s railway network. The heavy rains have significantly impacted Mumbai’s infrastructure, especially its vital railway network, grappling with extensive waterlogging in many areas.
Meanwhile, the weather forecast remains grim for Mumbai, Thane, and other Maharashtra districts, with the Indian Meteorological Department predicting continued moderate to heavy rainfall until at least Saturday. The city has been placed under a ‘yellow’ alert, signaling caution due to persistent downpours expected until July 13.