Mumbai, commonly known as the financial powerhouse of India is once again being tested on the power of the monsoon. At least in the past five days, the city encountered a consistent and heavy rain that has put its infrastructure on its knees, as well as the daily life, and it left thousands stranded. The crisis came to a head on Tuesday.
The IMD issued a red alert over August 20th, which warned of extremely intense rainfall, high-wind speed, and thunderstorms. Although the people of Mumbai are used to the annual monsoon, this season has brought about a new kind of operational challenge: delayed monorails, halted trains, cancelled flights, flooded rivers, and deferred university exams.
In this comprehensive report we will retrace the crucial incidents which took place over the last 24hrs and the outcome of the IMD red alert in the future of the business continuity in the city and management of the citizens.
Understanding the IMD Red Alert: What It Really Signifies
When IMD raises a red alert, then it is not a daily weather report, so it is a serious alert. Really intense rainfall, greater than 204.5 mm in a 24 hour period, is being aimed at Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri. This is no ordinary prediction and it triggers a domino-like effect on administrative systems. Much attention should be paid to municipal corporations and disaster management touch and railway authorities should be on high alert. The routinely performed city activities, both nature of traffic and critical services, can be required to be redesigned in order to anticipate the probable flooding.
In the case of Mumbai, this may include suspension of the suburban rail services, establishment of temporary traffic divertions in flood-prone locations, closure of vulnerable groups of school complexes, opening of emergency shelters and evacuation units.
Although IMD has indicated that rain might calm down after tomorrow Thursday, there is a high possibility of heavy down pouring in the form of short term rain. That is sufficient to inundate vulnerable regions in a few minutes, and every stakeholder must be cautious and prepared to act.
Public Transport Takes a Severe Hit
Local Trains , Mumbai’s Lifeline , Interrupted
On Tuesday, after 11.15 a.m., the harbor line of Central Railway was paralyzed by water-logging that had flooded the tracks. As services were back up by 3 a.m. Wednesday, the stranding of thousands of commuters was over 15 hours.
- Up to 35 minutes delays were experienced on the Western Line.
- Central Mainline services were back at 7:30 p.m., but were still experiencing delays of up to 45 minutes in several areas.
- Sections of the Harbor Line were also underwater, even after midnight, and some low-lying areas recorded up to 15 inches of flood water.
Long distance routes were also largely affected. A number of express trains that served Jodhpur like the Jodhpur Dadar Express and Jaipur Pune Express were either terminated short or diverted leading to significant delays.
| Service | Action Taken |
| Jodhpur–Dadar Express | Terminated at Borivali |
| Ahmedabad–Pune Duronto | Diverted via Surat–Udhna–Jalgaon |
| Jaipur–Pune Express | Diverted via alternative route |
Monorail Crisis: 782 Passengers Rescued
There was major disruption in Mumbai on Tuesday evening on the monorail elevated corridor. There was a power outage stalling two monorail trains between stations and this caused great discomfort to passengers. Around 782 persons had to be evacuated using the help of snorkel ladders and emergency gear.
According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the energy systems of the monorail were not designed to address emergency, overloaded conditions which was the scenario due to cancellation of local train services.
Due to the air-conditioning failure, suffocation occurred in at least 15 passengers, and one was admitted to the hospital. Fortunately, they are said to be stable.
Flight Operations Disrupted at Mumbai Airport
It was not only the city that was affected by the heavy rainfall, the skies got the blow as well. Continuous rainfall reduced visibility to a significantly low level at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport leading to at least eight flights being kept aside to divert to alternate airports such as Ahmedabad or Hyderabad.
This led to massive traffic jams in the termini places and there would be overcrowding and long queues. Airline employees also experienced a huge problem upon having to handle an abundance of rebooking requests as well as frustrated travelers. Departures were delayed by anything up to two-plus hours.
One of the factors pointed at by the aviation professionals is poor drainage system in the apron of the airport. Flooding due to heavy rain falls still interrupts normal activities, hence there is an urgent need to have better facilities to conduct activities normally.
Mithi River Nears Danger Mark, Triggers Evacuations
On Tuesday night, the situation escalated rapidly as the Mithi River’s water level rose to 3.9 meters, just a hair below the official danger threshold. Emergency response teams were deployed without delay.
In Kranti Nagar, Kurla, over 400 residents, including children, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities, were relocated to temporary shelters. The evacuation process utilized both inflatable rescue boats and NDRF trucks to ensure everyone’s safety.
Thanks to swift and coordinated efforts, the city managed to avoid a catastrophic flooding incident like the one experienced in 2005. That said, significant concern remains: any additional heavy rainfall could push the river over its embankments, placing hundreds of households in informal settlements at considerable risk.
Mumbai University Postpones Examinations
Due to the ongoing risks posed by flooding in several areas, the University of Mumbai has postponed all examinations scheduled for August 20th. This decision impacts students from both the Summer 2025 and Winter 2025 sessions.
At this stage, new examination dates have not been provided. The university has stated that a separate announcement will be made once public transport services resume normal operations.
Many students have expressed support for this move, particularly those who experienced significant delays and disruptions due to the severe weather and transport issues on Tuesday.
Fatalities and Statewide Impact
Maharashtra is facing severe challenges due to relentless rainfall, with significant human and operational impacts reported. According to the state disaster management department:
- 24 deaths across five districts over the past four days due to rain-related incidents.
- 5 deaths recorded on Tuesday alone (3 in Nanded, 1 in Mumbai, 1 in Beed).
- 1,550+ residents evacuated across Ratnagiri, Raigad, Beed and Nanded districts.
Additionally, rivers in Raigad and Ratnagiri either breached or neared their official flood thresholds. This triggered controlled water releases from nearby dams, a necessary measure to mitigate further risk and manage pressure on local infrastructure.
Fake News Alert: No Official School Closure Declared
Amidst the recent commotion, a number of unconfirmed messages began circulating on social media, alleging that all schools and colleges in Mumbai would be closed on Wednesday, August 20th. This prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to step in and clarify that no such directive had been issued.
This incident serves as a reminder of the critical need to verify information and depend solely on official communications from government authorities.
Record Rainfall Data: A New Normal in the Making?
Mumbai experienced over 200 mm of rainfall within just 11 hours on Tuesday—a figure that’s concerning both for its sheer volume and, more critically, its intensity. The majority of this rainfall occurred in a concentrated 4-hour period, which quickly led to flooding across several major arterial roads.
Numerous meteorologists and environmental experts have highlighted that these types of short, high-intensity rainfall events are becoming increasingly frequent, largely due to climate change. Urban planners refer to this as the “congested drainage paradox.” Older drainage infrastructure, designed for more moderate monsoon conditions, simply cannot keep up with these sudden, localized cloudbursts.
Unless there’s a comprehensive upgrade of these drainage systems, they’ll likely continue to buckle under similar conditions in the future.
Looking Ahead: Will the Situation Improve?
The IMD has indicated that rainfall intensity is likely to reduce from Thursday onward. However, Wednesday remains a high-risk day, particularly for low-lying zones in:
- Kurla (especially near Mithi River)
- Sion
- Dadar
- Andheri East
- Borivali West
Authorities have advised residents to:
- Avoid unnecessary travel
- Refrain from crossing waterlogged roads
- Keep emergency helpline numbers handy
- Follow official social media handles of IMD, BMC and Mumbai Police for real-time updates
Conclusion
Mumbai’s annual monsoon ordeal has once again highlighted both the remarkable determination of its citizens and the ongoing weaknesses in the city’s infrastructure. Red alerts aren’t rare anymore—they’re just part of the new normal. The city really needs more strategic planning, sustainable drainage systems, and effective disaster management, instead of short-term fixes.
For now, the key priorities are staying alert, supporting at-risk communities, and making sure emergency personnel can do their jobs without unnecessary interference. If the rainfall slows down by Thursday, as predicted, the immediate crisis could ease up. But honestly, the events of August 2025 should be a final warning: Mumbai can’t keep putting off climate-resilient reforms. It’s time for real, long-term solutions.
