Mumbai Under Heavy Rains: 2 Dead, Roads Waterlogged, Flights Disrupted as IMD Issues Red Alert

Mumbai awoke to a deluge on Saturday as incessant rainfall since Friday night battered the city, leading to widespread waterlogging, disruptions in daily life, and claiming at least two lives. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has escalated its warning, issuing a red alert for Mumbai and neighboring Raigad district, forecasting extremely heavy precipitation at isolated places.

The tragic fatalities occurred in the Vikhroli West area, where a landslide struck a residential society in Varsha Nagar, killing two people and injuring two others, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Rescue teams have rushed to the scene to clear the debris and assist those affected.

The torrential downpour paralyzed several parts of the metropolis, with significant waterlogging reported in low-lying areas such as Sion, Kurla, Chembur, and Andheri. On Shanmukhanand Hall Road in Sion, water accumulated to a depth of one to one-and-a-half feet, severely hindering movement. Vehicular traffic was brought to a crawl on the Western Express Highway, and the Andheri subway was shut down due to flooding, exacerbating commuter woes.

The city recorded exceptionally high rainfall figures in the 21-hour period ending Saturday morning. Vikhroli received a staggering 248.5 mm of rain, closely followed by Santacruz at 232.5 mm and Sion at 221 mm. Overnight, between 11 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Saturday, some areas witnessed over 200 mm of rain, with the Marol Fire Department, Santacruz’s Nariyalwadi School, and Tagore Nagar School in Vikhroli all reporting more than 213 mm. Even central areas like Dadar Fire Department and Worli Seaface logged over 130 mm in just five hours.

The IMD has cautioned residents to remain vigilant as more heavy rainfall is expected in Mumbai and surrounding areas in the coming hours. The adverse weather conditions have also impacted flight operations at Mumbai airport, with IndiGo Airlines advising passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. The airline stated that its teams are “closely monitoring the situation to ease any delays and support you at every step.”