Mumbai, Maharashtra: Mumbai woke up to a rain-soaked Monday as continuous overnight downpours brought the city to a standstill. Several low-lying areas were submerged, leading to widespread waterlogging and disruptions in both road and rail transport. The Andheri subway, a key route in the city, had to be shut down after being completely submerged in floodwater. Visuals from the morning showed a local train passing above while the subway below was entirely underwater.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange’ alert for extremely heavy rainfall for both Mumbai and Raigad today. A ‘yellow’ alert has also been announced for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts, cautioning residents about expected heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours, especially across the Konkan region.
In its advisory, the IMD has urged people to avoid going near the seashore and to limit travel unless absolutely necessary. Mumbai is experiencing high tide conditions with sea levels reaching 3.88 metres around 9:19 am, and another high tide of 3.42 metres is expected at 8:31 pm tonight. These conditions, combined with heavy rain are likely to worsen the waterlogging situation.
Flight schedules have also been hit. Leading airlines, including IndiGo and SpiceJet, have issued travel advisories for passengers flying to or from Mumbai.
IndiGo, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), said:
"Heavy rain showers have settled in over #Mumbai, and the roads are feeling the impact. Several routes towards the airport are seeing slow-moving traffic due to steady downpour. If you are flying today, please plan ahead, leave a little earlier, and check your flight status on our app or website before stepping out. We understand these conditions can affect your journey. Our teams are ready to support you on the ground and are working to keep operations running as steadily as possible. Thank you for your understanding."
SpiceJet also issued a similar warning to its flyers:
“Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status.”
Mumbai has been experiencing persistent heavy rainfall since the early onset of the monsoon last month. According to the latest update shared by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on July 19, the city’s seven main water reservoirs have reached nearly 82% (81.86%) of their total storage capacity which is a positive sign in terms of water supply but also a reminder of how saturated the city’s drainage systems have become.
With water levels rising and transportation hampered, residents are being advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movement. Authorities are on alert and civic teams are working round the clock to clear waterlogged roads and restore normalcy.
As the city navigates yet another monsoon onslaught, Mumbaikars are once again showing their resilience — braving the rain, delays, and disruptions with patience and caution.
