Mumbai, August 20 – Heavy rains lashed Mumbai for the fifth straight day, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert on Wednesday. The downpour caused flooding, train delays, flight diversions, and the rescue of over 700 passengers from stranded Monorail trains.

Key Updates from Mumbai Rains

1. IMD red alert issued
The IMD warned of very heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri districts. Winds are expected to reach 40–60 kmph. Officials, however, said the intensity may ease from Thursday.

2. Local trains disrupted, then restored
Central Railway’s harbour line services, suspended on Tuesday due to waterlogging, resumed by 3 am Wednesday. Main line trains between CSMT and Thane restarted by evening, though delays of up to 45 minutes continue. Western Railway services are running late by around 30 minutes.

3. Long-distance trains diverted
Several outstation trains were either short-terminated or rerouted. The Jodhpur–Dadar Express was halted at Borivali, while trains like the Ahmedabad–Pune Duronto were diverted via Surat and Jalgaon.

4. Mumbai University exams postponed
All examinations scheduled for August 20 have been postponed for both Summer and Winter 2025 sessions. Revised dates will be announced later.

5. Record rainfall and flooding
The city recorded over 200 mm of rainfall within 11 hours on Tuesday. Areas such as Kurla, Dadar, Andheri, and Sion reported severe waterlogging, wall collapses, and power outages.

6. Mithi River close to danger mark
The river rose to 3.9 metres, nearly touching the 4-metre danger level. More than 400 residents from low-lying areas in Kurla were evacuated to safer shelters.

7. Flight operations hit
At least eight flights were diverted, while several others faced long delays due to poor visibility and waterlogging at Mumbai airport. Terminals witnessed heavy crowding as passengers waited for rebookings.

8. Monorail rescue operation
Two overcrowded Monorail trains broke down between stations after a power failure. A total of 782 passengers were evacuated, with one woman hospitalised due to suffocation but reported stable.

9. Fake school closure message
The BMC clarified that messages about schools and colleges being shut on August 20 were fake. No official closure notice was issued.

10. Heavy rain across Maharashtra
Rainfall continued in parts of Konkan, Marathwada, and western Maharashtra. The state has reported 24 rain-related deaths so far, with over 1,500 people relocated from flood-prone areas.

Summary: Mumbai remains on high alert as heavy rains disrupt transport, exams, and daily life. While services are slowly resuming, authorities warn of more downpours in the coming hours, though relief is expected from Thursday.

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