Life in India’s mega city and Bollywood capital Mumbai has been left paralyzed due to heavy monsoon rains which saw the metropolis receiving more than 300 millimeters of downpour in a matter of a few hours. The city, home to some 12 million people, received 11.8 inches of rain in six hours until 7am in the morning, civic officials said in a statement.
More than two million people are said to have been affected elsewhere due to overflowing rivers, whereas flights were also disrupted and schools and colleges faced closure due to rains in the metropolis. With forecasts of more heavy showers and a high tide of 4.40 meters (14 feet) in the coastal city, schools and colleges shut for the day as a precaution, the authorities added.
“There is heavy traffic on the roads and rail lines too have been affected,” Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the western state whose capital is Mumbai, said on X, urging people to stay indoors unless necessary. Commuters waded through knee-deep water that partially submerged vehicles in many areas, while traffic clogged the city’s Eastern and Western Express highways.
Water on the tracks forced railway authorities to cancel some long-distance trains, they said, while television images showed some suburban passenger trains, a critical means of daily transport for millions, halted on inundated lines. The rains, coupled with low visibility, prompted airport authorities to suspend runway operations for more than an hour, said the airport sources.
More than 300 flights were delayed and 36 canceled, the website of tracking service Flightradar24 showed. In a statement, India’s biggest airline and low-cost carrier IndiGo said its Mumbai flights were affected by the heavy rain, while another budget airline, SpiceJet, also warned of disruptions due to bad weather.
The heavy downpour came days after record-breaking showers in the capital, New Delhi, that caused the fatal collapse of an airport roof. Torrential monsoon rains have also triggered floods and landslides in India’s north and east, as well as in the neighboring Himalayan nation of Nepal, where at least 11 people were killed.
More than two million people have been affected by rivers flooding in northeastern Assam, where the Kaziranga National Park, home to the rare one-horned rhinoceros, was inundated with six of the animals drowned, authorities said on Sunday. State authorities said 66 people have died in floods and rain-related incidents since May.
Flooding has also affected 31 villages in India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh on the Nepal border, the state government said. The relentless monsoon season has caused widespread disruption across various parts of India, highlighting the urgent need for robust infrastructure and effective disaster management strategies.
In response to the crisis, local authorities in Mumbai have deployed emergency services and relief efforts to assist those affected. Temporary shelters have been set up for displaced residents, and food and medical supplies are being distributed to those in need. The government has also urged citizens to take necessary precautions and stay updated with weather forecasts and advisories.
The situation in Mumbai remains critical as the city braces for more heavy rains in the coming days. The combination of urban congestion, inadequate drainage systems, and the intensity of the monsoon rains presents a significant challenge for the city’s infrastructure and emergency response capabilities.
As the monsoon season continues, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents while addressing the immediate needs of those affected by the severe weather conditions. The events in Mumbai serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing impacts of climate change and the importance of resilient urban planning and disaster preparedness.
