Mumbai Flooded After Heavy Overnight Rain, Trains Suspended

Heavy overnight rain in Mumbai has hit rail and road traffic after several parts in the city were water-logged. The weather department has warned of a flood-like situation in the low-lying areas.

In the last 24 hours, over 280 mm of rainfall was received in western suburbs, according to the India Meteorological Department or IMD, at a time when the country's financial capital is fighting coronavirus, triggering concerns of violation of government-mandated social distancing norms.

The city is expected to receive more rainfall  over the next 24 hours. Visuals from this morning showed commuters out on roads in knee-deep water, struggling to reach their workplaces.

Train services on the Central and Harbour lines have been suspended due to water logging, Mumbai's civic body - the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC - tweeted this morning. The Bombay High Court has suspended court  its hearings for the day. 

"Mumbai received one of the highest rainfall in thelast 24 hours," IMD's Mumbai centre Deputy Director General K S Hosalikar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI, adding that the "Santacruz observatory (in western suburbs) received 286.4 mm rainfall during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 AM on Wednesday". The Colaba observatory (in south Mumbai) recorded 147.8 mm rainfall during the same period, he underlined.  

Mumbaikars, train services on Central & Harbour lines have been suspended due to water logging following the heavy rainfall yesterday. However, Western Railway is functioning as usual.#MumbaiRains#MyBMCUpdates

— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) September 23, 2020

Water logging at Bhendi Bazar, Gol Temple, Nana Chowk, Mumbai Central Junction, Bawla Compound, J J Junction, Hindmata, Kala Chowky, Sarthi Bar, Worli Sea Face.

All wards are working actively to dewater the water logged areas.#MumbaiRains#MyBMCUpdates

— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) September 23, 2020

Mumbai rains at 5.30 in Morning, 23 Sept
Colaba 122.2mm
Santacruz 273.6mm
Col,Scz cont to recv vry intense spells of rains throughout night.
Radar indicates Mumbai Thane, Palghar, Raigad intense clouds, RF likely to cont.Mumbai, Palghar Thane..hvy rains could be in coming 24 hrs pic.twitter.com/oEcfLld4cy

— K S Hosalikar (@Hosalikar_KS) September 23, 2020

The Regional Meteorological Centre, in a late-night statement, said that "people living in vulnerable places may take caution" as it also warned about traffic disruption and power cuts.

On Twitter, social media users have been sharing pictures, urging civic bodies for help. "Continuous rain water rising at upper levels at smith house ground floor near Dongri police station.. Mumbai 400009. Pl help," wrote a user. 

Another user tweeted pictures, highlighting the struggles of commuting amid water-logging. "Finally reached office at Worli  Waterlogging in several parts of Mumbai Stay Safe Mumbai #MumbaiRain." 

#WaterLogging at Sion station. @mumbairailusers#mumbairain pic.twitter.com/5NAX1KnEDh

— Dinesh Mourya (@dineshmourya4) September 23, 2020

Finally reached office at Worli

Waterlogging in several parts of Mumbai

Stay Safe Mumbai #MumbaiRain pic.twitter.com/ZvRutom7lC

— Hemant Ghai (@hemant_ghai) September 23, 2020

The weather office has also warned of "possibility of danger to very old buildings and unmaintained structures". Earlier this week, over 30 people died in a building collapse in Bhiwandi near Mumbai.