Mumbai came to a partial halt on Monday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall across the city and adjoining areas. In response, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced a holiday for all government officers, excluding emergency services, and urged private offices to declare holidays or allow employees to work from home.
The civic body also declared a holiday for all schools, including the afternoon shift, as several parts of the city remained waterlogged. “We appeal to private establishments to cooperate in ensuring safety,” said the BMC Commissioner in a statement to CNBC-TV18.
The IMD’s red alert, its highest-level warning, covers key areas such as Borivali, Thane, Kalyan, Mulund, Powai, Santa Cruz, Chembur, Worli, Navi Mumbai, and Colaba, where intense showers led to flooding and severe traffic congestion.
Meteorologists expect heavy to very heavy rainfall, exceeding 15 mm per hour, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds throughout the day. This follows a series of downpours that began last week — including 200 mm of rainfall recorded in some parts on Saturday — that left large areas submerged and disrupted suburban train services.
Other parts of Maharashtra, including districts in Konkan and central regions, have been placed under red, orange, and yellow alerts, with authorities bracing for possible flooding.
Mumbai had already witnessed heavy rainfall between 1 am and 4 am on August 16, particularly in the western and eastern suburbs, following which the IMD had placed the city under an orange alert. Today’s escalation to a red alert underscores the seriousness of the weather conditions.
Residents are advised to stay indoors, avoid waterlogged routes, and follow advisories issued by the civic authorities. Emergency services remain on high alert, with disaster management teams deployed across vulnerable areas.
