“For the fourth day in a row, Mumbai was battered by relentless monsoon rain, which prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to declare a Red Alert for the city and surrounding areas. In around 84 hours, totals surpassed 500 mm, causing waterlogging across the city, transportation immobility, and traffic and electricity snarls. The Konkan belt, Thane, and Mumbai were warned by authorities to expect very severe to extremely high rains through the middle of the week.”
In the areas where the city experienced flooding
Goregaon, Andheri, Kurla, Wadala, Dadar, and Byculla all saw rapidly increasing flood spots. The Andheri Subway was closed for hours because of the excessive water. Low-lying residences in peripheral towns like Virar and Nalasopara experienced flooding. Santacruz had a pocket burst of ~151 mm during the day today, while Vikhroli recorded ~135 mm in nine hours.
Are educational institutions and workplaces shut down?
Yes, on August 19, the BMC announced a complete holiday for all schools and institutions in the city and its surrounds. A number of government and semi-government offices also closed or observed WFH. Decisions for the next day, according to officials, depend on how the forecast develops; keep an eye out for new BMC updates tonight evening.
Is there a day off tomorrow?
Only August 19 is official as of yet. After examining the rainfall and tidal windows, authorities stated they will provide an update for August 20. For the most recent information, follow the BMC/District Disaster Management handles.
How about the monorail and local trains?
In several areas, flooded tracks and limited speeds caused suburban services to slow, short-terminate, and stop for a short time. Schedule irregularities persisted even after the restoration of mainline services from CSMT to Thane/Kalyan by the evening. In a separate incident, the Mumbai Monorail experienced a power outage and became trapped between Bhakti Park and Mysore Colony; passengers were evacuated by emergency personnel and cranes.
Air travel and Mumbai Airport
The airport and many airlines, including IndiGo, issued recommendations to check flight status before departing and to travel early due to waterlogging on the access roads to CSMIA. Several inbound planes were redirected in the afternoon, according to live blogs, as newsrooms monitored go-arounds and diversions. Even after the severity of the rain decreases, expect knock-on delays.
Timing of high tide (important during intense rainfall)
Today, BMC detected two high tides: one at around 9:16 am (~3.75 m) in the morning and another at approximately 8:53 pm (~3.14 m) in the evening. In areas that are prone to flooding, water recedes later because of delayed drainage caused by high tide and cloudbursts. Even tomorrow night, tide windows are still high.
IMD prediction—now, later, next day
Through August 20, IMD maintained a Red Alert for Mumbai, Thane, and Konkan, indicating the possibility of “very heavy to extremely heavy” periods with gusts of 45 to 55 km/h. Though today and tomorrow still appear risky, several sources recommend a step-down to orange or yellow later in the week. Instead of taking a fast clean break, plan for sporadic surges.
Safety manual (bookmarkable for readers)
- Avoid unnecessary travel during peak cells; if you must, stay away from underpasses, which are flood bowls reminiscent of the Andheri Subway.
- Before you go, check the trains (CR/WR applications, X handles); even when they have been “restored,” anticipate slower speeds and fewer turns.
- Regarding the airport: check with the airline, allow additional time, and keep an eye on CSMIA’s warnings for any holds or diversions that may occur in real time.
- Monorail: till MMRDA certifies complete clearing, use detours around Chembur, Wadala, and Bhakti Park.
- Park on higher ground and store electronics and other necessities in waterproof bags during high tide windows.
- For civic emergencies, call BMC 1916; for ward-level updates and micro-alerts, tune in to BMC/Police/IMD channels.
Reasons behind the rapid flooding in Mumbai
Three factors come together in a cloudburst over a crowded city: (1) brief, powerful bursts that overflow drains; (2) high tide-locked nullahs; (3) low-lying choke points (rail cuttings, subways); and (4) debris-clogged drains. Water drains more quickly as the tide changes and the rain stops, but commutes are slow until then.
“The intense downpour in Mumbai and the red alert issued by the IMD have led to a tough scenario for the city. Constant rain has resulted in significant waterlogging, traffic jams, and interruptions in train services, while air travel has also been impacted. As schools and colleges announce breaks, it is evident that the administration has prioritized safety above all else. Residents are urged to remain inside, refrain from non-essential travel, and adhere closely to emergency service directives. The meteorological agency has additional cautioned about heavy rain in the upcoming hours, highlighting the importance of keeping informed about the latest warnings. In the end, the watchfulness of Mumbaikars and the prompt response of authorities will be crucial in guaranteeing safety during this challenging time.”
