Mumbai monsoons have always been peculiar. The city has been experiencing heavy rainfall for the last five days, causing severe floods. The extreme lash down has led to waterlogging in many areas like Dadar east, Marine Drive and lower Parel areas making it impossible for public transportation. The Andheri Subway has also been shut down. On Sunday afternoon, Mumbai police took to X to advise citizens not to go to the coastal areas and instructed them to dial 100 in case of an emergency.
The Indian Meteorological department (IMD) predicted moderate rainfall in the city for the next 24 hours starting from 8 in the morning on Monday.
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High Tide hits Mumbai
Amidst the heavy downpour, a 4.5 metre high tide hit the Mumbai coast at 12:59 AM on Monday. Massive waves were spotted at Gateway of India and other parts of the city. As a counteraction to the high tide and heavy rains, three teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed in the city to handle any potential situations that may arise.
Several teams were deployed in other areas like Vasai, Thane, Ghatkopar, Pawai, Mahad, Khed, Chiplun, Kudal, Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara. These teams are actively patrolling in low-lying areas and areas prone to landslides to provide immediate response in case of any emergency.
Impact on Transportation services
Sources say Mumbai’s runway was shut down twice due to the deluge. Several flight operations were delayed by an hour due to poor visibility. Around 15 flights that were to arrive in Mumbai were diverted, and 36 other flights were cancelled. And as for the railways, due to severe waterlogging on tracks in areas like Chunabhatti, Mankhurd, Dadar, Matunga, and Nahur, train services have been severely impacted on the Central and Harbour lines. However, railway officials quickly responded by deploying pumps to drain water in the waterlogged areas.
Schools declare a holiday
Kishan Jawale, the district collector of Raigad, a city adjacent to Mumbai, issued an order declaring a holiday on Monday for both government and private schools in four tehsils-Mangaon, Karjat, Poladpur, and Mahad due to high rainfalls there on Saturday and Sunday. The order also said teachers and non-teaching staff should report to schools and assist the administration in relief and rescue operations. Several schools in other districts, including Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli, also declared holidays.
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Unpredictable Mumbai rains
It is a known fact that the Mumbai rains are unpredictable. Many studies were conducted to examine the inconsistent rainfall patterns in Mumbai. From low-pressure regions to the north and northeast of Mumbai to high sea surface temperature gradients along Mumbai’s latitude and climate change, there are multiple factors affecting Mumbai rain patterns.
About the author
Sharanya Kanna is a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad. She has a strong interest in writing and research. With a passion for journalism and storytelling, she aims to contribute actively to society.
