Trains, flights disrupted as rain plays havoc, schools shut in Mumbai

In the comeback of the wet spell, the total stock in the seven lakes catering to Mumbai’s water supply also surpassed 99 percent–catapulting to 99.26 per cent–on Wednesday morning.

While the red alert in Mumbai will remain in place until 8.30 am on Thursday, according to the IMD, the city and its neighbouring district of Thane will continue to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall alongside thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds on Thursday. The weather bureau has also placed the districts under an orange alert on Thursday.

While the red alert in Mumbai will remain in place until 8.30 am on Thursday, according to the IMD, the city and its neighbouring district of Thane will continue to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall alongside thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds on Thursday.

For the third consecutive day, the city woke up to overcast skies and heavy showers on Wednesday morning with the IMD’s Santacruz station recording 74 mm rain while the Colaba station registering 41 mm rain.

Following evening, the pace of rain intensified with torrential showers and thunderstorms battering the city. The intense spells took a toll on the suburbs, as many low-lying swathes were left choked owing to waterlogging.

Records furnished by the BMC showed that between 4 pm and 10 pm, more than 250 mm rain was recorded in pockets like Mankhurd (276 mm), Powai (274 mm) and Ghatkopar (259 mm) while heaviest rain of the western suburbs was registered in Jogeshwari (191 mm), Marol (176 mm), Kandivali (144 mm).

In what left motorists and pedestrians wading through ankle-deep waters, several areas like Bhandup, Mulund, Vikhroli, Chembur among others were left inundated in rain water. In the western suburbs, the low-lying Andheri subway was shut for traffic owing to accumulation of nearly two-and-a-half feet deep water.

The weather bureau has also placed the districts under an orange alert on Thursday.

Besides this, traffic snarls were reported across major routes including the Mumbai Coastal Road which experienced slow traffic owing to waterlogging reported in the Amarsons interchange exit at Breach Candy.

Further, the incessant showers affected local train services on the central suburban railway with a 30kmph speed limit imposed between Kanjurmarg and Vikhroli after waterlogging was reported across railway tracks in Bhandup.

Significant disruptions were also observed in flight operation at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, as the adverse conditions posed challenges to pilots and air traffic controllers. Until 9.56 pm, officials said that at least 14 flight diversions were reported at the airport.

Meanwhile, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus services were also affected with many buses diverted and affected along at least 20 routes.

For the record, only 16 mm rain was recorded in the city and suburbs until 5.30 pm, as per the IMD data with rains intensified from evening. Following the increased downpour, the IMD updated its forecast – changing the orange alert to a red warning in Mumbai and Thane on Wednesday evening. According to the IMD, the city is likely to receive “extremely heavy rain with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds” until Thursday morning.

In light of the red warning, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) deployed staff from its solid waste department on field to ensure that the dewatering pumps are operational. Further, the civic chief instructed senior ward officials to monitor and ensure coordination with the disaster management control room in case of emergencies.

Having logged over 100 mm rain in the past two days, the Santacruz station has clocked nearly 339 mm rain in September so far. Since the onset of monsoon in June, meanwhile, the suburbs have received 2,772 mm rain while Colaba has registered 2,390 mm rain collectively.

Meanwhile, amid heavy rain sweeping Mumbai and its suburbs, the stock in the seven lakes catering to water demands in Mumbai touched 99.26 percent–which accounts for 14.36 lakh million litres–on Wednesday morning. Last year as well as in 2022, on the same day, the water stock in the lakes hovered around 98 percent.

Holiday for schools, colleges

Amid a red alert in the metropolis, the BMC on Wednesday evening announced that schools and colleges in Mumbai will remain shut on Thursday to ensure students’ safety. BMC commissioner and state-appointed administrator Bhushan Gagrani told Express that a holiday has been declared in Mumbai.

Furthermore, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) as well as the Palghar district administration also declared a holiday for schools and colleges on September 26 (Wednesday) in light of the red alert. While in Mumbai and Thane a red alert has been issued until Thursday morning at 8.30 am, a red alert has been issued by the IMD for Palghar district throughout Thursday.

“A holiday has been declared for all schools and colleges in Mumbai on Thursday to ensure safety of students. The BMC administration requests Mumbaikars to step out of homes only if required,” said the civic body in a statement on Wednesday.
In light of the heavy rain forecast, educational institutions like J J School have postponed their scheduled exams.