Streets waterlogged, lakes swell, traffic hit as heavy rain throws life out of gear in Mumbai

Mumbai on Monday woke up to the heaviest shower in the past five years with the Santacruz observatory recording 268 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. The Indian Meteorological Department issued a ‘red alert’ till tomorrow in Mumbai and adjoining Raigad and Ratnagiri districts, while an ‘orange alert’ is being given for Palghar and Thane. (Express Photo)

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that the heaviest downpour was recorded in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai with its Automatic Weather System (AWS) recording 315.6 mm of rainfall in Vikhroli, followed by Powai at 314.5 mm of rainfall, Andheri East (292 mm), Chakala, (272 mm) and Aarey (259 mm). (Express Photo)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reviewed the flood situation and overall heavy rains in the state. (Express Photo)

Attributing the downpour to an offshore trough, Sushma Nair, Scientist, IMD Mumbai, said, “There was an offshore trough along north Gujarat and Kerala coast, which strengthened along North Konkan around midnight, resulting in the heavy rains.” (Express Photo)

Owing to the heavy downpour, the water stock in the seven lakes that supply water to Mumbai jumped to 18.73 per cent on Monday morning. On the same day last year, the lake levels touched 21.57 per cent while in 2022, the water levels stood at 25.96 per cent of the total capacity. (Express Photo)

The incessant rains flooded the routes rendering the railway tracks kaput. Maharashtra's Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Anil Patil was seen walking out of the Express Train after it had to be stopped due to the waterlogging. (Express Photo)

The torrential rains had aircraft waiting in a queue to enter the runway, as 51 flights were canceled to and from Mumbai till 11 am today morning. (Express Photo)

In view of heavy rain predictions by the MeT office, all BMC, government and private schools and colleges in Mumbai will remain closed for the second session. (Express Photo)

Normal vehicular movement in central Mumbai's Gandhi Market, a major low-lying area in the city, was closed due to clogging. In 2022, the BMC created a water holding tank over here to channel out accumulated rain water from the spot. Civic officials said the tank played a major role in averting a flood-like situation since the accumulated rain waters could be drained out within a few hours. (Express Photo)

The Powai Lake which supplies non-potable water for industrial usage in Mumbai overflowed this morning. The lake has a water holding capacity of 545 crore litres and the 6.61 km long catchment area gets filled during the monsoon every year. (Express Photo)

Heavy downpours caused southbound traffic congestion this morning on the Eastern Express Highway. Commuters faced long delays due to the combined impact of the rain and disrupted train services. (Express Photo)

Monsoon rains wreaked havoc on Monday morning commute, causing southbound traffic disruption on the Sion-Panvel Highway near Mankhurd (Mumbai's gateway to Navi Mumbai). (Express Photo)

The heavy downpour resulted in a massive landslide at Vrundavan, Nehru road, Vile Parle East, causing connectivity disruption due to debris. (Express Photo)