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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Climate
- Business Standard
Mumbai braces for more intense rain, Delhi sees relief from heatwave
Heavy rain and widespread waterlogging disrupted flights and trains operations in Mumbai with several airlines such as IndiGo and Air India issuing a travel advisory New Delhi Mumbai is likely to see more intense rain on Wednesday (May 28), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The forecast predicts a generally cloudy sky with heavy rain, and possibility of thunder, lightning, and gusty winds. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius during the day. The IMD has also issued warnings for isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall across central Maharashtra from May 27 to 29 and over Konkan and Goa from May 27 to June 2. Mumbai records highest 24-hour rain since 2021 By Tuesday morning, cumulative rainfall in Santacruz stood at 324 mm. Colaba surpassed its previous May record of 279.4 mm set in 1918, marking the highest-ever rainfall for the month. Heavy rain and widespread waterlogging disrupted flights and trains operations in Mumbai with several airlines such as IndiGo and Air India issuing a travel advisory. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) suspended operations on Monday following flooding at the underground Acharya Atre Chowk station. Mumbai metro seepage due to sudden downpour: MMRC chief The water seepage at Acharya Atre Chowk Metro station was caused by an abrupt and intense downpour and posed no safety risk to the underground corridor, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) said on Tuesday. The flooding happened at both the concourse and platform levels of the Aqua Line's Acharya Atre Chowk station in Worli Naka, as Mumbai recorded nearly 90 mm of rain in just 90 minutes. The 33-km Colaba-BKC-Aarey line, the city's first fully underground Metro corridor, has since faced scrutiny, including political criticism, but MMRC maintains that passenger safety remains uncompromised. Rain brings relief from heat in Delhi Delhi is set to witness partly cloudy skies with hot, humid conditions on May 28. Thunderstorms and lightning are also expected today. The minimum temperature is likely to hover 27 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature is expected to stay near 39 degrees Celsius. The Met Department has issued no alert for today.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Will Mumbai receive heavy rain today? Here's IMD's weather forecast
Mumbai rain forecast: Days after torrential downpour pounded Mumbai, the India Meteorological Department forecast a "generally cloudy sky with heavy rain" for the financial capital on Wednesday, May 28. There is also a possibility of thunder or lightning accompanied by gusty winds at isolated places, it added. According to the weather department, the minimum temperature for the day is likely to settle at 24 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is expected to be around 31 degrees Celsius. IMD's weather forecast said scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds is likely over Konkan and Goa, and Madhya Maharashtra from May 27 to June 2. It also forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places over Madhya Maharashtra from May 27 to 29, and over Konkan and Goa from May 27 to June 2. "Isolated extremely heavy rainfall very likely over Konkan and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra on May 27," the weather office added. A day after the onset of the southwest monsoon, Mumbai received the highest one-day rainfall in May since 2021, when the extremely severe cyclonic storm Cyclone Tauktae, said to be the worst cyclone in the last four decades, brushed past the city. In the 24 hours ending at 8.30am on Tuesday, the city baseline weather station in Santacruz recorded 144 mm of rain while Colaba recorded 161.9 mm. As of Tuesday morning, Santacruz logged 324 mm of rainfall, while Colaba recorded the highest ever rainfall in May, breaching its previous record of 279.4 mm in 1918. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday fined the operators of four out of ten mini pumping stations for failing to install and operate pumps to drain the water accumulated at key locations in the city following heavy rainfall a day ago. Locations across Mumbai reported severe waterlogging on Monday after the city received heavy rainfall. Vehicular and rail traffic was affected in several areas. The BMC said that mini pumping station operators at four points, Hindmata, Gandhi Market, Yellow Gate, and Chunabhatti, all located in low-lying areas prone to waterlogging, were penalised ₹10 lakh each. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) on Tuesday clarified that the water seepage inside the Acharya Atre Chowk metro station was caused by a "sudden kind of event" that could not be prevented. It asserted that there is "no safety issue" with the underground Metro system. MMRC managing director Ashwini Bhide said there is absolutely no safety issue as far as the underground Metro is concerned, adding that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed after Monday morning's incident. Operations between the Acharya Atre Chowk metro station and Worli were suspended on Monday as rainwater flooded the Aqua line station on Mumbai Metro's Line 3.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Urban Aquagmire
Why every Indian city watched with alarm, as a new underground station in Mumbai flooded There is stuff one can accept in disaster movies, which one never, ever expects to encounter in real life. What happened to the Acharya Atre Chowk metro station in Mumbai on Monday felt all the more worse because it had been inaugurated just 15 days earlier. This station and the entirety of its Aqua line metro corridor is underground. In Delhi, underground stations provide shelter from intense rain. At this Worli station, the rain gushed in forcefully, people fled the platforms, the metro followed suit. MMRC says it's because a water-retaining wall collapsed. That's poor excuse for a Rs 37,000 crore shiny new project. As Indian cities grapple with the pain of urban flooding, this is a reminder that throwing money at it will not suffice. What good does it do to citizens to be told that India is becoming the 4th largest economy in the world, when their lived realities don't feel like it is even ranked 40th? What help are pricey infraworks when these are badly engineered? In many ways, things seem to be getting worse. It feels like a grandma's tale that cities used to greet the rains with hurrahs. Now, Gurgaon to Chennai, everyone dreads roads washing away, garbage wading in. Because well into the 21st century, our stormwater drains are still used as dustbins. Building Mumbai's underground metro has involved resetting the earlier drainage system. What we need to know is whether this has been done properly. This is where MMRC must be required to provide detailed data. Especially as several SoBo localities now experience waterlogging like they never have. Worli includes some of the world's priciest real estate. Whitefield boasts the poshest villas in Bengaluru. It's strange that nothing changes even after these get flooded. Years of delay in municipal elections is also strange. Meanwhile, massive financial outlays roll on. Potholes are found, remetalled, refound, in a loop. It's as if politics has less incentive to help the city than hurt it. That our metropolises were never planned to accommodate the millions they now do – with more on the way – was a credible defence once upon a time. With today's tech tools and economic heft, India has no excuse for not doing right by its citywallahs. Mistakes now have to be named and shamed and righted. Flooded images of Mantralaya, Brabourne stadium and KEM hospital speak to everything being at stake in saving hydrological commonsense from drowning. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Mint
5 days ago
- Climate
- Mint
Mumbai on RED ALERT after heavy rains, floodwater suspends metro operations; causes traffic snarls, waterlogging
Mumbai rains: The Regional Meteorological Centre issued a red alert for Mumbai, predicting heavy showers during the day. The maximum temperature is expected to settle around 31 degrees Celsius while the minimum will hover around 23 degrees Celsius on May 27. 'Extremely heavy rainfall &Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds at isolated places,' Mumbai weather forecast states, which will remain valid till 8:30 AM today. For the coming two days a yellow alert is place as thunderstorm activity is likely to accompany heavy rain. Notably, a red alert is also in place in nearby districts, including Ratnagiri, Thane, Raigad and Sindhudurg. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Maharashtra today. The Southwest Monsoon brought early showers on May 26, this is remarkably earlier than the usual monsoon onset, which used to be around June 11. 'Thus, the monsoon has arrived in Mumbai 16 days earlier than usual. This marks the earliest monsoon advancement over Mumbai during the period 2001–2025,' IMD said. Heavy showers on May 26 brought the daily life of Mumbai residents to a standstill as streets and low-lying areas were inundated and waterlogging was rampant, disrupting vehicle movement and causing traffic snarls. Traffic congestion due to waterlogging was reported in several places including Narayan Dabholakar Road, Worli Naka A.B Road, King Circle Bridge (Matunga), Elphiston Bridge, Freeway South Bound, Avatar Singh Bedi, Hindmata Junction, Powai Plaza (Sakinaka), Ram Nagar Subway and Andheri Subway, among others. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) in a post on X stated, 'Restoration work is in progress at #AcharyaAtreChowk station following disruption caused by seepage ingress.' MMRC had to suspend operations after flooding was reported at the underground Acharya Atre Chowk station following sudden and intense rainfall. MMRC informed that train operations on Worli to Aarey JVLR corridor are functioning as normal. Reaction to heavy May 26 heavy precipitation, Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said, 'Such heavy rainfall has not occurred in decades. Around 15 days ago, Mumbai and its surrounding areas witnessed intense rains like never before. We have a 24/7 response system in place to ensure that people receive timely assistance. A total of 66 pumps and sensors have been deployed across drains, and we have already identified areas prone to waterlogging,' PTI reported. He further informed that authorities are monitoring the situation from the control room through CCTV cameras and 13 dedicated hotlines have been set up to provide urgent help.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Mumbai breaks record, receives highest rainfall in May
Mumbai woke up to heavy rain and thunderstorms on Monday (May 26, 2025), with several parts of the city receiving over 200 mm of rainfall, according to the civic body. Transportation services took a hit as waterlogging was reported in several areas, including the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital and the newly inaugurated Metro 3 Aqua Line station. This drew criticism from the Opposition and citizens, who raised concerns over people's safety amid the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) poor monsoon preparedness. The coastal observatory in Colaba and Sant Cruz recorded 144 mm and 74.3mm of rainfall, respectively, till 5.30 p.m., according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Colaba Coastal Observatory recorded the highest rainfall this May at 300 mm, breaking the record from 1918 when 279.4 mm rainfall was recorded in May. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) was forced to suspend operations on the Metro Line 3 between Acharya Atre Chowk and Worli on Monday after heavy rains inundated the newly inaugurated underground Acharya Atre Chowk station, causing extensive damage. The MMRC has not revealed the extent of damage, however, the water retaining wall erected to protect the structures on the entry and exit routes of the metro line has collapsed. MMRC claimed that the incident occurred due to a sudden inflow of water from a sewage drain in the area along Annie Besant Road. MMRC officials clarified that the completion of permanent wall work was to be completed in the next three months, so the temporary wall work was in progress, with June 10 being the tentative date. 'With the early onset of monsoon and heavy downpour, the temporary structure collapsed,' as per the MMRC statement. Charges of corruption Flagging reports of flooding and waterlogging, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray criticised the government for its poor monsoon preparedness. 'The metro station was inaugurated two weeks ago, but now it will be inaccessible to the public.' He also slammed the civic administration, saying that those who claimed to be visionaries and infrastructure experts were now busy distributing money to corporators and politicians. 'The civic administration has been warned about the need for drain cleaning for the past two months. However, the BMC hasn't taken any meetings regarding pre-monsoon preparations,' he added. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshavardhan Sapkal also slammed the BJP-led alliance and BMC administration for failing to address the waterlogging issue of Mumbai. 'With the very first heavy rain of the season, the corruption of the State government and municipal administration was exposed as Mumbai's streets turned into drains. The BMC spends crores of rupees annually on pre-monsoon works and drain-cleaning, yet every year tells the same story. It is because contractors and those in power are looting public money,' he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also targeted the government for corruption, saying, 'In a single rainfall event, Mumbai not only faced flooding but also witnessed waterlogging in the metro tunnel, exposing corruption. There has been rampant misuse of public funds since the BMC has been under the control of the BJP and Eknath Shinde.' 'I urge my Shiv Sainiks to lend a helping hand to the people affected by the rainfall. We will take action against those responsible for the mismanagement and corruption,' he said. With the increase in rain, IMD put Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Pune and Ratnagiri on red alert on Monday (May 26, 2025) afternoon. 'The monsoon has arrived 16 days early to Mumbai. Looking at the synoptic situations, the orange alert was updated to red alert for Mumbai, Thane, and other ghat regions,' said Shubhangi Bhute, the head of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Mumbai. The early onset was due to the low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea and the change in wind direction. This was the first time since 1956 that Mumbai has witnessed the early onset of monsoon, as per the IMD data. According to the BMC, Nariman Point Fire Station received 252 mm of rainfall from midnight on May 25 to 11 a.m. on May 26, followed by BMC Headquarters (214 mm), Colaba Gauging Station (207 mm), Netra Hospital, Don Tank (202 mm), C Ward Office (Chandanwadi, Marine Lines) (180 mm), Memonwada Fire Station: (183 mm), Britannia Gauging Station, Worli (171 mm), Nariyalwadi School, Santacruz (103 mm), Supari Tank, and Bandra (101 mm). Disruptions due to rain The heavy rainfall has caused disruptions to transport systems in Mumbai as waterlogging was reported in several areas, including Dadar TT flyover, Saki Naka in Andheri, Hindmata Junction, Worli Naka, and Elphinstone Bridge. As this led to traffic congestion, several BEST buses were also diverted, while the local train services were terminated at the suburban stations Kurla, Dadar and Parel due to waterlogging between Byculla - CSMT, later restored, as per the Central Railway PRO, Swapnil Nila. According to BMC, around 25 cases of short circuits, 45 tree/branches felling, and nine incidents of partial house collapse were reported across Mumbai city and suburban areas. One person, identified as Sairaj Pawar (24), was injured and admitted to St. George Hospital.
