Heavy rains continued to batter Mumbai, leading to the tragic death of a 45-year-old woman who drowned in an overflowing nullah in suburban Andheri on Wednesday. In total, at least four people have lost their lives due to rain-related incidents, as torrential downpours crippled India’s financial capital, flooding roads and halting daily life.
Some areas of Mumbai recorded as much as 275 mm (11 inches) of rain, causing severe waterlogging and major disruptions to road traffic and the local train services that millions of residents rely on. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Mumbai and Thane, signaling more heavy rainfall to come.
Key Updates:
- Fatalities and Rainfall: At least four people have died from rain-related incidents, including a woman in Andheri. Parts of the city experienced up to 275 mm of rainfall on Wednesday evening.
- Schools Closed: The IMD’s red alert prompted the city administration to declare a holiday for all schools and colleges on Thursday, September 26. Pune also closed educational institutions due to the rains.
- Train Services Resumed: The Central Railways restored local train services at Andheri station on Thursday morning after water receded. While most services are running normally, delays of 3-4 minutes have been reported due to mail express adjustments.
- Flight Disruptions: Heavy rains resulted in the diversion of 14 incoming flights at Mumbai Airport, including nine IndiGo flights, due to poor weather conditions.
- Traffic Chaos: Several areas, including Kurla East, Nehru Nagar, and Chembur, experienced significant waterlogging and traffic snarls. A landslide was reported at the Mumbra bypass late Wednesday night.
Authorities have urged caution, advising commuters to avoid walking on waterlogged train tracks and to stay safe amid the ongoing downpour.