In the heart of Maharashtra, Mumbai has been thrown off balance by relentless rains. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued both orange and red alerts for Mumbai and its suburban areas, warning of heavy rainfall and strong winds in the next few hours. Although the downpour lessened around 10 AM, clouds still shadow the sky. In Sion, the streets around Gandhi Market are waterlogged, creating a restless stir amongst residents.
The IMD predicts that light to moderate rain will continue in parts of Mumbai over the next 24 hours. The city has been witnessing rain for several days, leading to waterlogging in various sections, seriously affecting transportation.
Source: aajtak
The impact of the downpour was starkly visible in the low-lying areas of Dadar, Parel, and Kurla on Sunday and Monday. Both train and flight schedules have faced disruptions due to the rain. Mumbai recorded 58 mm of rain between 8 AM on May 25 and 8 AM on May 26, with 19 mm in the eastern suburbs and 15 mm in the western suburbs.
Guidelines for Air Travelers
Airlines have issued advisories owing to the downpour. SpiceJet alerted via social media, "Due to the adverse weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai, all departures/arrivals and their flights might be affected. Passengers are requested to check their flight status via http://spicejet.com/#status."
Additionally, Air India also issued an advisory: "Flight operations in Mumbai are impacted due to rain and thunderstorms. We encourage our passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport to ensure a seamless travel experience."
Rail Services Disrupted, Passengers Complain
The unyielding rain has led to significant waterlogging on the railway tracks, causing delays in local train services. Trains are running five to ten minutes late on schedule.
Officials reported that several hours of continuous rainfall caused waterlogging in Mumbai's low-lying areas and on railway tracks, disrupting traffic and local train services on Monday morning.
The Central Railway network faced waterlogging on tracks at stations like Masjid, Byculla, Dadar, Matunga, and Badlapur, slowing train movements during the busy morning hours. Swapnil Neela, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, stated, "Suburban local trains are operational, but certain sections are witnessing reduced speeds."
Passengers complained about the delays towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. However, the Western Railway claimed no waterlogging on its tracks and reported normal operations. Nevertheless, passengers have noted slight delays and waterlogging issues were observed in low-lying areas including Kings Circle, Mantralaya, Dadar TT East, Parel TT, Kalachowki, Chinchpokli, and Dadar Station, affecting vehicular movement.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Nariman Point Fire Station recorded the highest rainfall in the city (104 mm), followed by A Ward Office (86 mm), Colaba Pumping Station (83 mm), and the Municipal Corporation Headquarters (80 mm).
