Heavy Rainfall Batters Mumbai: CM Fadnavis Warns of Critical 48 Hours Ahead

NEW DELHI: Mumbai came to a halt on Tuesday as heavy rain lashed the city, paralyzing transport, triggering flooding, and claiming lives across Maharashtra. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the next 48 hours would be crucial, as the weather office issued a red alert for several districts, including Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg.

The city received nearly 300 mm of rain in 24 hours, accounting for 37 per cent of Mumbai’s monthly average. Low-lying areas were submerged, railway tracks flooded, and flights delayed or cancelled. Local trains, considered the city’s lifeline, were badly hit as waterlogged tracks brought services to a crawl.

In several suburbs, roads turned into rivers. Cars were stranded, buses rerouted, and thousands waded through waist-deep water to reach home. Schools and colleges were shut on Wednesday, with the administration urging people to step out only if necessary.

Officials confirmed that at least eight people lost their lives in rain-related incidents, including house collapses and electrocutions. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed to carry out rescue operations. Around 2,500 people were evacuated from flood-prone parts of Thane and Raigad.

In Raigad, swelling rivers forced authorities to shift families to relief camps. In Ratnagiri, the district administration opened shelter homes for stranded passengers. Rescue boats and helicopters were kept ready as precautionary measures.

CM Fadnavis reviewed the situation with disaster management officials and said all agencies were on high alert. “The next 48 hours are crucial. I appeal to people to remain indoors as far as possible. The administration is working round the clock,” he said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) activated control rooms across the city and kept pumps running to drain water from flooded areas. More than 200 emergency workers were deployed to clear fallen trees and restore blocked roads.

Air travel was badly affected, with major carriers like IndiGo, Air India, and Vistara reporting delays and cancellations. Passengers were advised to check flight status before heading to the airport. The Mumbai-Goa highway also witnessed traffic snarls due to waterlogging and landslides.

The IMD said the intense rain was caused by a low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea, which had strengthened into a depression. “Very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected over Konkan, Goa, and parts of central Maharashtra in the next two days,” the bulletin said. Authorities said water levels in major dams were rising rapidly and were being closely monitored. Citizens were urged not to spread rumours and rely only on official advisories.