Mumbai on alert: Heavy rains to continue lashing city; IMD issues flash flood warnings

As lovely as the Mumbai monsoons are, no amount of enjoyment derived from some chai-pakoda can make up for the utter mess that accompanies the city during the rainy weather. Mumbaikars, who like to keep a positive outlook to things, are also having a tough time doing so while having to wade through almost knee-deep rainwater.

Incessant monsoon rains have wreaked havoc on Maharashtra's coastal belt, with Mumbai and the rest of the Konkan belt bearing the brunt of the downpour. Emergency services remain on high alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region for the next few days.

Coastal areas submerged, flights diverted

The relentless rains submerged low-lying areas across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, and several parts of Ratnagiri, Raigad, and Khed districts. The situation worsened on Sunday, with over 100 mm of rainfall recorded in the city and suburbs within a 12-hour window. The incessant showers caused waterlogging, disrupting local train and road traffic.

Flight operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were also impacted, with at least 15 flights diverted due to poor visibility. The airport authorities were forced to suspend operations twice on Sunday.

According to the Times of India, the Western Railway reported that local train services were operating as usual on Monday. However, commuters have claimed that trains were running behind schedule by 5 to 10 minutes.

Authorities on high alert, NDRF deployed

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), and local authorities to remain on high alert and provide immediate assistance wherever necessary. Teams have been deployed across Maharashtra, with a particular focus on Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur.

The Mumbai Police have advised residents to avoid venturing out, especially near coastal areas, unless absolutely essential. Schools in Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli districts (Vidarbha region), and four tehsils in Raigad district have been declared closed on Monday as a precautionary measure.

IMD issues alerts, rains expected to continue

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Raigad and Ratnagiri districts on Monday and Tuesday, indicating very heavy rainfall. A yellow alert has been issued for Mumbai, predicting heavy showers throughout the day. Similar forecasts are in place for several other regions in the state, with a possibility of heavy rainfall in Thane, Pune, Palghar, and Nagpur.

The incessant rains pose a significant challenge for several parts of Maharashtra, prompting the IMD to issue a red warning (meaning ‘take action’) over Konkan, Goa and Madhya Maharashtra. Flash flood warnings have also been issued in the regions due to the possibility of waterlogging, particularly in the low-lying areas. Residents are urged to exercise caution and stay informed about the goings-on to ensure their safety.