Incessant rains with intermittent spells of moderate to heavy showers since Friday morning have slowed down public transport services and traffic in Mumbai as well as disrupted flight operations.
Indigo airlines posted on their 'X' handle "flight are impacted due to heavy rains and air traffic congestion in Mumbai."
#6ETravelAdvisory: Flights are impacted due to heavy rains and air traffic congestion in #Mumbai. Do keep a tab on the flight status https://t.co/VhykW6WdB1. Wishing you happy and safe travels! ☔
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) July 12, 2024
Several parts of the country’s financial capital received more than 15 mm of rainfall between 7 am and 8 am. Due to heavy rains, low-lying areas like Sion saw waterlogging prompting the authorities to divert road traffic.
In the Western suburbs, the Andheri subway between Andheri and Jogeshwari railway stations was also waterlogged.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mumbai issued a “Nowcast” warning at 8 am, predicting heavy “intense spells of rain very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai during next 3-4 hours”.
Intense spells of rain very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai during next 3-4 hours. @moesgoi @ndmaindia @airnewsalerts @DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/oQWPjJIWzE
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) July 12, 2024
The weatherman has predicted “moderate to heavy rain in the city and suburbs” with the possibility of “very heavy rainfall at isolated places” for the next 24 hours for the Maharashtra capital.
A civic official said there will be a high tide of 3.87 metres in the Arabian Sea at 4.09 pm. Being a saucer-shaped city, high tides coupled with heavy rains can trigger flooding as water doesn't get discharged into the sea at that time.
In the 24 hours that ended at 8 am on Friday, Mumbai’s island city recorded an average 93.16 mm of rainfall. The figure was 66.03 mm and 78.93 mm for eastern Mumbai and western Mumbai, respectively, a civic official said.
A spokesperson from Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) said that the public bus service body has diverted three bus routes due to waterlogging at Sion since 7.50 am.
Western Railway and Central Railway, which operate local trains in Mumbai, claimed on X that their suburban services were “running”. However, commuters complained of some delays, though there was no waterlogging on the tracks.
Watch this video of waterlogged roads in King's Circle area of Mumbai amid heavy rains in the city.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Waterlogged roads in King's Circle area of Mumbai amid heavy rains in the city pic.twitter.com/m3O8uCYmTD
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2024
(With PTI inputs)