September 16, 2025: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ for Mumbai, warning of very heavy rainfall in the city and neighbouring districts. Continuous showers since Sunday night intensified on Monday morning, leading to waterlogging, traffic congestion, and disruptions to local train services in several areas.
Mumbai Traffic Police confirmed the closure of Andheri Subway after one to one-and-a-half feet of water had collected. A nowcast issued at 8:30 am by the civic body warned of “intense to very intense spells of rain and thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph” in Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts for the next three hours. “A red alert has been issued for Mumbai, Thane, and Ratnagiri districts, valid until 11:30 am on Monday,” an IMD Mumbai official told PTI.
Commuters reported waterlogging on tracks at Dadar, Kurla, and Bandra stations, with suburban train services delayed by 10–15 minutes. However, Western Railway and Central Railway officials clarified that operations were running normally despite the downpour. Low-lying areas such as King’s Circle, Lalbaug, Worli, Parel, and Kurla witnessed severe flooding, while pothole-filled roads worsened traffic conditions.
According to civic data, in the 24 hours up to 8 am, the Colaba observatory recorded 134.4 mm of rainfall, while Santacruz registered 73.2 mm. The city received an average of 111.19 mm, compared to 76.46 mm in the eastern suburbs and 74.15 mm in the western suburbs.
The IMD forecast for the next 24 hours predicts a “cloudy sky with heavy to wet rain” at isolated locations in Mumbai and its suburbs, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and winds of up to 40 kmph. Meanwhile, an ‘orange alert’ has been issued for Palghar, Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Beed districts, where heavy rain is expected. Other parts of Maharashtra are likely to see lighter showers or dry weather.
Source: Hindustan Times
