Heavy rains in Mumbai have caused significant disruption, leading to the delay and cancellation of multiple flights. Flooding has severely affected areas such as Sion, Chembur, and Andheri. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reported that Modak-Sagar and Vihar lakes, two of the seven lakes supplying water to the city, are now overflowing.
The weather office has issued a red alert for Mumbai until 8.30 am on Friday, predicting extremely heavy rainfall in some areas.
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IndiGo has acknowledged that heavy rain is “causing periodic delays in flight schedules” and advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Air India has also been impacted, with some flights being cancelled or diverted. The airline is offering full refunds or a one-time complimentary rescheduling for today’s bookings. SpiceJet has similarly warned that flight departures and arrivals might be affected, urging passengers to stay updated on their flight status.
Traffic through the Andheri subway has been halted due to severe flooding. The BMC has announced a 10 percent reduction in Mumbai’s water supply despite the overflow of the Modak-Sagar and Vihar lakes, which have capacities of 12,892 crore liters and 2,769 crore liters, respectively.
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Wider Impact Across Maharashtra
The heavy rains have also wreaked havoc in areas surrounding Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. In Thane, locations such as Mumbra are waterlogged, while multiple residential complexes in Pune’s Pimpri Chinchwad are flooded. Tragically, three individuals in Pune lost their lives after being electrocuted while wading through water.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured that the administration is on high alert, with rescue agencies such as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) ready to assist residents. The Chief Minister has also been in communication with the Army, indicating that their help will be sought if necessary. “I am closely monitoring the situation. I appeal to Mumbaikars, please stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary,” Mr. Shinde stated.
Regarding the situation in Pune, the Chief Minister mentioned that he has been in contact with city officials and will arrange for airlifting residents if required. “If the need arises, we have told them to airlift people. There is no need to worry,” he reassured.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.
