Mumbai and its adjoining areas have come to a standstill after relentless rainfall triggered severe waterlogging, disrupted train and flight services, and led to traffic chaos across the city. The continuous downpour, which began early Tuesday, has left major roads submerged and many homes inundated, making daily life extremely challenging.

Severe Waterlogging and Evacuations
Visuals from across the city show streets turning into rivers. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg in Kurla has been closed to traffic after being submerged under nearly five feet of water. The swelling Mithi River, which flows through critical areas such as Dharavi and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), has raised serious concerns. Authorities reported that its water level had risen to 3.9 meters, forcing the evacuation of 350 residents from Kurla Krantinagar to safer locations, according to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office.

The state government confirmed that Mumbai recorded over 150 mm of rainfall between 4 AM and 11 AM, with suburbs experiencing even heavier showers. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stated that if water levels continue to rise, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will relocate people living near riverbanks.

The river’s swelling has revived memories of the catastrophic July 26, 2005 floods, when Mumbai recorded 944 mm of rain in 24 hours, causing widespread devastation.

Flooding in Other Maharashtra Districts
Thane, Raigad, and several other districts have also been affected by flooding. In Gadchiroli, the municipal council’s office was submerged. The Indian Army conducted flood relief and rescue operations in Nanded, where four villages were inundated after continuous rainfall. According to the Ministry of Defence, an advance reconnaissance was carried out at Ravaan village, followed by the deployment of a 65-member rescue team in the affected areas.

Flight and Train Services Hit
Air travel was severely impacted as at least 14 flights aborted landing at Mumbai airport, and five others were diverted due to poor visibility and adverse weather conditions. Airlines, including IndiGo, issued advisories urging passengers to check flight status before leaving for the airport and allow extra time for travel due to flooded roads.

Train services have also been disrupted, with delays and cancellations reported on several suburban routes.

IMD Issues Red Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai and surrounding regions, warning of intense spells of rain with gusty winds (40-60 kmph) in the next few hours. The weather office also predicted widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall in Konkan and parts of Madhya Maharashtra until August 21.

Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay indoors as the situation remains critical.