Mumbai Soaked as Monsoon Arrives Early

Mumbai : Mumbai witnessed widespread disruption today as overnight and early morning rains submerged several parts of the city, marking a chaotic start to the monsoon season which arrived 12 days ahead of schedule. The relentless downpour caused waterlogging in multiple low-lying areas, severely impacting road, rail, and air traffic across India’s financial capital.

Heavy rains hit key localities such as Kurla, Sion, Dadar, and Parel, where visuals showed vehicles inching through flooded streets and pedestrians wading through knee-deep water. In some areas, traffic movement slowed to a crawl, and delays were reported on several BEST bus routes. Commuters struggled to reach their destinations, with suburban train services also running behind schedule due to track flooding at various junctions.

As per data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), intense rainfall was recorded across the city core areas this morning. Nariman Point saw 40 mm of rainfall in just one hour between 6 am and 7 am. Grant Road received 36 mm, Colaba recorded 31 mm, and Byculla witnessed 21 mm of rainfall during the same period.

Officials reported that eastern and western suburbs, including Andheri, Borivali, Ghatkopar, and Chembur, experienced light to moderate rainfall early today. While the suburban belts have not yet seen severe flooding, authorities are on alert with rainfall expected to continue throughout the day.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deployed rapid response teams and dewatering pumps in vulnerable zones. Control rooms are monitoring water levels in real-time, and citizens have been urged to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. Emergency helplines have been activated, and local authorities are coordinating with disaster management teams to clear blocked roads and ensure smooth movement of emergency services.

Flight operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were also impacted, with at least 12 flights delayed and two diverted due to low visibility and heavy rain.

According to the IMD, the early arrival of the Southwest Monsoon is the result of strong westerly winds and favorable atmospheric conditions that caused the weather system to advance rapidly across the western coast. Meteorologists predict that the rain intensity may increase in the next 48 hours, prompting Mumbai to brace for more challenges.