August 20, 2025: Mumbai endured its fourth consecutive day of torrential monsoon rain on Tuesday, leaving much of the city paralysed by flooding, transport disruption and large-scale evacuations. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city recorded intense rainfall between 8.30 am on August 19 and 5.30 am on August 20, with the heaviest showers in Vikhroli (223.5 mm), followed by Santacruz (206.6 mm) and Byculla (184 mm). Radar data suggests no immediate respite, and the IMD has issued an orange alert for Mumbai, while Thane, Raigad and Pune remain on red alert.
The downpour exposed critical weaknesses in the city’s infrastructure. Nearly 800 commuters were rescued from two stranded monorails, one between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park, and another between Acharya Atre and Wadala. A preliminary probe by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority revealed that overloading led to a mechanical failure, cutting power supply.
Air and rail services were heavily disrupted. Eight flights were diverted and several delayed, while Central Railway suspended services on the Harbour line after tracks were submerged. BEST bus operations were also curtailed, leaving thousands stranded. In Kurla, 350 residents were evacuated as the Mithi river crossed danger levels, with five NDRF teams deployed for relief work.
The crisis spread beyond the city. More than 1,100 people were moved to safety in Thane and Palghar, where swollen rivers forced bridge closures and road blockades. Municipal authorities in Navi Mumbai, Panvel and Thane ordered schools shut, though Mumbai schools remained open despite waterlogging.
The state of Maharashtra has reported 15 rain-related deaths, including eight in Nanded, along with extensive crop damage. The IMD attributed the deluge to a weakening depression over Chhattisgarh, an offshore trough from Gujarat to Kerala, and a circulation over the Arabian Sea, all fuelling heavy monsoon activity across the region.
Source: Moneycontrol
