Mumbai’s First Monsoon Downpour Brings City to a Standstill
Mumbai witnessed severe waterlogging and transport disruptions after the season’s first major monsoon rainfall battered the city on Tuesday. Several roads, railway tracks and subways were submerged, affecting daily life and causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow Alert for Mumbai on Wednesday, warning of heavy rainfall in the city and surrounding regions of Maharashtra.
Roads and Subways Flooded Across Mumbai
Heavy rainfall led to water accumulation in several low-lying areas, making movement difficult for residents and motorists. Civic authorities restricted access to flood-prone locations, resulting in traffic congestion across multiple parts of the city.
The Everard Nagar subway was closed for public use after being inundated with water. Areas around Saki Naka Metro Station and several other localities also witnessed severe waterlogging, impacting normal movement throughout the day.
24 Local Trains Cancelled Due to Track Issues
The rainfall also affected railway operations.
According to Central Railway, track-related issues on Mumbai Local’s Trans-Harbour Line forced the cancellation of 24 train services. Railway officials later restored traffic on the affected section after repair work.
However, train speeds between Turbhe and Vashi continue to remain restricted as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety.
Andheri Underpass Remains a Major Concern
The Andheri Subway once again emerged as one of the worst-hit locations during the rainfall.
A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official stated that authorities have yet to find an effective temporary solution to recurring flooding in the underpass. Officials remain deployed at the site to prevent vehicles from entering the waterlogged stretch.
During the rainfall, an autorickshaw reportedly became stranded in the middle of the flooded subway, forcing civic workers to rescue the driver and move the vehicle to safety.
BMC Intensifies Rescue and Safety Efforts
Municipal authorities have deployed teams across vulnerable locations to prevent accidents and assist stranded commuters.
Officials said their priority remains ensuring that motorists do not attempt to cross heavily flooded areas, especially underpasses and low-lying roads where water levels can rise rapidly.
Rail Services Largely Remain Operational
Despite the intense rainfall, railway services across most major routes continued to function normally.
The BMC confirmed that apart from the waterlogged Andheri Underpass, other subways remained operational. Western Railway also stated that suburban train services on key corridors, including the Harbour Line and Churchgate–Dahanu route, continued without major disruptions during peak morning hours.
Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Record Significant Rainfall
Continuous overnight rainfall resulted in waterlogging across several areas of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
According to BMC rainfall data, the city recorded an average of 56 mm rainfall between 8:00 AM and 11:00 PM on June 23. Eastern suburbs received approximately 23 mm, while western suburbs recorded 33 mm rainfall during the same period.
Several locations in western Mumbai reported particularly heavy rainfall during late evening hours:
- Charkop Sector 1 Municipal School, Kandivali – 32 mm
- MHB Municipal School, Malad – 28 mm
- Gajdharbandh Storm Water Pumping Station – 26 mm
- Banana Leaf Area – 22 mm
- Juhu Dispensary – 22 mm
- Narialwadi School, Santacruz – 21 mm
IMD Issues Yellow Alert for Mumbai
With monsoon activity expected to remain active across Maharashtra, the IMD has issued a Yellow Alert for Mumbai while several other districts remain under Yellow and Orange Alerts.
Weather officials have advised residents to remain cautious, avoid waterlogged areas, and monitor official weather updates as heavy rainfall is likely to continue over the next 24 hours.
