One person died in Mumbai as rains caused havoc in the city with India Meteorological Department issuing a red alert for Wednesday and Thursday. A holiday has been declared in schools and colleges across the city in consideration of the safety of students while the rains hit local train and flight schedules.
The island city, eastern suburbs, and western suburbs had 87.79 mm, 167.48 mm, and 95.57 mm of rainfall between 5 pm and 10 pm on Wednesday, as per data by the Brihanmumbai Corporation (BMC). The highest rainfall was recorded in the Mankhurd area at 276 mm followed by 275 mm in Bhandup and 274 mm in the Powai area.
The India Meteorological Department has activated a red alert for Mumbai predicting extremely heavy rainfall till 8:30 am on Thursday.
VIDEO | Visuals from Mumbai’s Marine Drive as heavy rainfall lashes the city.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/HVY2sPxZcE
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 25, 2024
A 45-year-old woman died after drowning in an overflowing nullah in suburban Andheri on Wednesday, said the police. The incident took place at around 9:20 pm near gate no. 8 of MIDC Andheri East, reported PTI.
The victim, identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad was taken to Cooper Hospital where she was declared brought dead.
Schools, Colleges To Remain Closed Today
In view of the waterlogging and more heavy rain predictions, Maharashtra School Education Minister and the guardian minister for Mumbai, Deepak Kesarkar declared a holiday for schools and colleges. “All schools and colleges under BMC’s jurisdiction will remain closed on Thursday, considering the safety of the students,” the BMC stated.
VIDEO | Waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall in Mumbai disrupts normal life. Visuals from Veera Desai road in Andheri West.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/wv9GMiShmH
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 25, 2024
Roads Waterlogged, Train And Flight Schedule Disrupted
The heavy rains lashing Mumbai since Wednesday have disrupted the local train schedule in the city. The trains were delayed at many places and were operating at a cautious speed, said the Central Railway. “As the water recedes, the train will continue its journey to your destination,” it said, urging commuters to remain inside the train and avoid stepping onto the tracks.
Local trains stopped on track between Kurla and Thane stations on Central Line leaving thousands of commuters stranded on CSMT and other stations.
VIDEO | Commuters stranded at Kurla Railway Station amid heavy rainfall in Mumbai.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/f42uzSJOGl
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 25, 2024
Heavy traffic snarls were witnessed at several places in the city while waterlogging at some places virtually turned roads into rivers of fast-moving water.
Some vehicles, especially two-wheelers broke down and Mumbai police appealed to people not to step out of home as far as possible.
Flight schedules also took a hit with as many as 14 incoming flights at the Mumbai Airport diverted to different airports on Wednesday. Nine IndiGo flights were alone not given clearance to land in the city, said an airport official, as per PTI report.
The remaining flights which were diverted from Mumbai to other cities due to inclement weather were two from Vistara and one each of Air India, Akasa and Gulf Air.
Seven flights were diverted to Hyderabad, four at Ahmedabad, two at Mopa Airport in Goa and one at Udaipur.