The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for very heavy rainfall in Mumbai on Wednesday, August 20. The warning comes a day after torrential downpours lashed the city for the fifth day in a row, disrupting life with flooding, stalled trains, flight diversions, and mass evacuations in low-lying areas.
On Tuesday evening, 782 passengers were rescued after two overcrowded Monorail trains got stranded between stations. Panic spread as power and air-conditioning failed, leaving more than a dozen passengers gasping for breath. A few fainted, and one woman had to be hospitalized, though her condition was reported as stable.
The Mithi River also swelled dangerously close to the danger mark, while the IMD predicted a decline in rainfall intensity starting Thursday. Meanwhile, the University of Mumbai postponed all exams scheduled for August 20, citing safety concerns.
Red Alert for Mumbai and Surrounding Districts
The IMD issued a red nowcast warning for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri, predicting very heavy rain, thunderstorms, and winds of 40–50 kmph, with gusts up to 60 kmph. On X (formerly Twitter), IMD said:
“#Red #Nowcast #warning for heavy rain accompanied with thunderstorm- #Maharashtra- Thane, Pune, Raigad #Madhya Pradesh- Sagar, Balaghat #Mumbai city #Orange Nowcast Warning for Mumbai Moderate spells of rain very likely.”
Officials said the intensity would likely reduce from Thursday, though Raigad remains under red alert.
Train Services Resume After 15 Hours
Local train services on Central Railway’s harbour line, suspended at 11.15 am Tuesday, were restored around 3 am Wednesday, after water receded from the tracks. The disruption lasted more than 15 hours. Services on Western Railway are still delayed by 35 minutes, and Central Railway trains are running 45 minutes late. Long-distance trains such as the Jodhpur–Dadar Express and Ahmedabad–Pune Duronto were either diverted or short-terminated, causing major passenger inconvenience.
Record Rainfall and Flooding
Mumbai recorded over 200 mm of rainfall in just 11 hours on Tuesday, submerging major areas like Kurla, Dadar, Andheri, and Sion. Streets turned into rivers, making travel nearly impossible. The rains also caused tree falls, wall collapses, and power outages across several localities.
Mithi River Nears Danger Mark
The Mithi River reached 3.9 metres, just below its 4-metre danger level. Over 400 residents from Kurla’s Kranti Nagar slums were evacuated by NDRF and civic teams as a precaution.
Air Travel Disrupted
Heavy rainfall and poor visibility forced at least eight flight diversions on Tuesday, with many more delayed. Flooding at the airport added to passenger woes, leading to overcrowding inside terminals.
Monorail Rescue Operation
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said overcrowding on the Monorail—caused by the suspension of local trains—led to the system’s failure. 582 passengers were rescued from a stranded train between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park using snorkel ladders. Another 200 passengers were evacuated from a separate train stuck near Wadala.
Fake School Closure Message
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) clarified that a viral message claiming schools and colleges would remain closed on Wednesday was fake. No official order had been issued.
Rain Impact Across Maharashtra
Heavy rain continued across Konkan, Marathwada, and western Maharashtra for the fourth day straight, raising the state’s rain-related death toll to 24. On Tuesday, five deaths were reported — three in Nanded, one in Mumbai, and one in Beed. Authorities have shifted more than 1,550 people to safer areas. Rivers in Ratnagiri and Raigad districts have reached danger levels, forcing controlled water discharge to prevent flooding.
