Mumbai Rains: Local Trains Crawl, Buses Diverted Due To Waterlogging

Mumbai experienced significant disruptions due to heavy rainfall, which led to traffic jams, waterlogged streets, and delays in local train services, most notably within the city's central areas. The downpour was so severe that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) escalated its weather warning from a yellow to an orange alert for Mumbai, along with Thane and Raigad districts, signaling the likelihood of very heavy rainfall.

The heavy rain began early in the morning, flooding several low-lying areas and railway tracks, which impeded the flow of both vehicular and train traffic during the morning rush hour. Specifically, between 9 and 10 am, Nariman Point was drenched with an astonishing 104mm of rainfall, marking one of the highest hourly records this season. This intense precipitation was also felt across other parts of South Mumbai.

The Central Railway (CR) and Harbour Line's suburban train services were significantly affected due to the inundated tracks at various stations. The Western Railway managed to maintain operations close to normal, although some commuters faced slight delays. Roads, especially in areas prone to flooding, were heavily impacted, resulting in bus route alterations, congestion on major roads, and temporary closures.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) noted that the rainfall intensity decreased after 10 am, but the sky remained cloudy. The forecast from the IMD predicts light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds (30-40kmph) across Mumbai in the next 24 hours. Moreover, a high tide measuring 4.75 metres was anticipated at 11.24 am, heightening concerns about additional waterlogging issues.

Several key areas in Mumbai reported significant waterlogging, including Nariman Point, Masjid, Byculla, Dadar, Matunga, and Badlapur, affecting Central Railway tracks. Key locations like King's Circle, Mantralaya, Dadar TT East, Parel TT, and Kalachowki witnessed severe flooding. This also led to numerous bus diversions, notably in the Gandhi Market area and Sion Road No. 24, where buses were rerouted to avoid the submerged streets. The Hindmata Junction became a major point of congestion, disrupting both bus and vehicular traffic.

Rail services faced challenges as well, with the Harbour Line halting trains between Wadala and CSMT since 10.25 am due to flooding at Masjid station. The Central Line saw slow train movement at several stations because of the waterlogged tracks. Additionally, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) implemented several bus diversions to navigate the floods, affecting routes through Gandhi Market, Sion Road, and the Wadala Flyover, among others.

Traffic across the city was heavily affected, with reports of congestion and halted traffic in areas such as Kemps Corner, King's Circle Bridge, Ram Nagar Subway, Eastern Express Highway, and the Western Express Highway. Notable traffic jams were also reported on New Link Road, Malad, Aarey Colony Road, Elphinstone Flyover, Hindmata Junction, and Bhoiwada, underscoring the widespread impact of the rainfall on the city's transport infrastructure.