Schools shut, trains halted, flights delayed! Mumbai records highest single-day rainfall since 2019

Monsoon has unleashed its full might over Mumbai, disrupting daily life, halting suburban train services, and grounding flights. On July 8, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 268 mm of rain till Monday morning, marking Mumbai's highest single-day rainfall since 2019. Additionally, several city pockets registered over 300 mm of rainfall within a span of 6 hours, starting from 1 AM to 7 AM.

Further, the IMD has issued a Red Alert for Tuesday, following which Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared a holiday for all schools in Mumbai on July 9. While students rejoice at unexpected free time, the city's educational staff—the principals and teachers are called upon to collaborate with local authorities to bolster disaster management efforts.

Rainfall in Mumbai wreaked havoc on Monday night. Central Railway and Local train services were severely disrupted due to water-logging, stranding thousands of passengers. Harbour line services were suspended again on Monday night due to waterlogged tracks. Moreover, flight operations at Mumbai airport were crippled by low visibility, causing over 50 flight cancellations by 11 AM.

Besides Mumbai, Pune and Raigad have also announced a holiday for schools and colleges today, after a Red Alert was issued predicting heavy rain. Meanwhile, residents are advised to stay tuned to weather updates from IMD and local authorities. Preventive measures include avoiding travel unless absolutely necessary!