Mumbai Braces for More Rains: IMD Issues Alerts Amid Waterlogging and Flight Disruptions

New Delhi (India) July 21: Mumbai's persistent weather-related problems are worsened by heavy rain that hit some areas of the city. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), strong winds and thunderstorms are predicted to follow the additional rainfall in the next 48 hours.

Traffic hit by waterlogging

In several places, the ongoing rain has already resulted in waterlogging. It has caused extreme traffic jams on main routes of the city.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city experienced its first triple-digit rainfall of the month. The Santacruz weather station in Mumbai recorded 114.6 mm of rain over the 24-hour period ending at 8.30am.

IMD officials say the rainfall is related to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. It has increased rainfall over the coastal strip of Maharashtra. It includes Mumbai and the adjacent areas.

IMD issues rain alerts

An 'orange' signal has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) due to extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai and Raigad anticipated for today. There is also a "yellow" warning for heavy rain in Thane, Palghar and Mumbai.

According to the forecast office, Mumbai and the Konkan are expected to experience heavy rains frequently during the duration of the coming day.

IMD also cautions residents of Mumbai and the surrounding areas to stay away from the shoreline. They advise to go only when absolutely essential because the city is experiencing a high tide that has risen to 3.88 meters since 9:19 am. The next high tide, which will reach 3.42 meters. It will occur at 8:31 p.m.

The IMD also warns locals to be cautious, especially during the evening hours when isolated heavy showers are predicted. This is mainly for the people who commute or work in an office.

Flights face delays

Airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet have issued an advisory for their passengers due to the worsening weather conditions in Mumbai.

SpiceJet posted, "Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status.”

The IMD warns of thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds until July 24. As intense rainstorms keep flooding the city, traffic jams and waterlogging persist.

On Wednesday, rain is expected to persist along with steady cloud cover and tolerable temperatures. 

After the rain, the water level in lakes that provide drinking water increased dramatically. According to data released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on July 19, the aggregate stock in the seven reservoirs currently stands at 11,84,796 million litres, or 81.86% of their total capacity.

Aadrika Tayal