MUMBAI — The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts on Monday, September 29, with forecasts of up to 250 mm of rain in isolated areas.
The alert, effective from early Monday through the day, covered Mumbai city and suburbs as well as neighboring regions in Maharashtra state, according to the IMD's bulletin released on Sunday. Rainfall in the past 24 hours reached 120.8 mm at the Colaba observatory and 83.8 mm at Santacruz, officials said.
Schools and colleges closed across the affected districts, including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Pune and Nashik, following a state government directive for red and orange alert areas, the Maharashtra education department said. At least 11 people died in rain-related incidents across the state since Saturday, including house collapses in Thane and Palghar, local authorities reported.
Local trains on Central and Western Railway lines faced delays of up to 30 minutes on Sunday due to waterlogging, while Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport buses operated without diversions, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said. The Andheri subway reopened for traffic after temporary closure.
"Extremely heavy rainfall is likely over Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra during September 28-30," the IMD said in its forecast. Gusty winds of 40-50 km/h accompanied thunderstorms, the bulletin added.
The Maharashtra government issued an advisory urging residents to avoid coastal and low-lying areas and monitor river levels. Over 11,500 people moved to relief camps in flood-hit parts of the state, the State Emergency Operation Centre said. Police advised against unnecessary travel.
An orange alert for heavy rain remained in place for Pune and Nashik on Monday, with a yellow alert covering about 70% of Maharashtra, according to IMD data. Rainfall was expected to subside from Tuesday, October 1.