Mumbai Weather: Over 200 mm of rain in 24 hours, Powai Lake overflows, Orange Alert for Thursday

Brace for a wet Thursday, Mumbai! The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an orange alert for Thursday, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall across the city. With thick clouds looming and intense showers already making their mark, the monsoon madness is in full swing.

As per official data, Mumbai recorded an average of 86 mm of rainfall between 8 AM on June 18 and 8 AM on June 19, with the eastern suburbs receiving 65 mm and the western suburbs logging 53 mm during the same period. The deluge has turned roads into rivers, crippled traffic, and left commuters bracing for another gruelling day of waterlogged streets and endless delays.

The heavy downpour has thrown daily life off track, with waterlogged roads and traffic snarls making commuting a nightmare. Low-lying areas such as Sion, Chembur, Kurla, and Dadar continue to bear the brunt during peak hours, while known trouble zones like LBS Road in Kurla, Vakola Bridge in Santacruz, and the Andheri subway remain prone to flooding and frequent shutdowns due to poor drainage.

In the past 24 hours, Mumbai and its suburbs have been hit by over 200 mm of rain, causing widespread disruption across the city. Local train services on the Central, Western, and Harbour lines have been delayed or suspended in some sections due to waterlogged tracks. Road traffic has also been badly affected, with reports of tree falls and wall collapses adding to the chaos.

Mumbai’s Powai Lake began overflowing early Wednesday, nearly 20 days ahead of last year, after relentless rainfall in its catchment areas. Though the lake isn’t part of the city’s potable water supply, it holds a massive 545 crore litres and remains one of Mumbai’s most scenic urban escapes, surrounded by lush greenery and high-rises.

While Powai’s waters aren’t used for drinking, Mumbai depends on seven key reservoirs, Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Modak Sagar, Vihar, and Tulsi which together provide 385 crore litres of drinking water daily.