Mumbai rains persist, schools shut amid red alert.
Mumbai has been placed under a red alert for Monday and Tuesday as continuous heavy rains battered the city, disrupting daily life. Several low-lying areas reported severe waterlogging, leading to traffic snarls and delays in suburban train services. In light of the situation, schools and colleges have been closed. For assistance or official information, residents can contact BMC’s main control room at helpline number 1916.
Mumbai reels under heavy rains for third straight day; schools shut, red alert issued
Mumbai, India’s financial capital, continued to remain under the grip of relentless monsoon showers for the third consecutive day on Monday, August 18, 2025. The intensity of the downpour forced the city administration to declare a half-day holiday for all schools and colleges, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the metropolis and its adjoining districts.
The red alert, which indicates extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204.5 mm within 24 hours, was sounded for Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Thane districts. Meanwhile, Palghar, Sindhudurg, Aurangabad, Hingoli, Jalgaon, Jalna, Nanded, and Parbhani districts were placed under an orange alert, while other parts of Maharashtra were put under a yellow alert. Each category signals a different degree of preparedness, with red being the highest, orange indicating very heavy rainfall, and yellow serving as a cautionary advisory.
on Monday. The announcement was made as heavy showers that began in the morning showed no signs of slowing down.
City struggles with waterlogging and transport delaysThe unrelenting rains led to waterlogging in several low-lying areas of Mumbai. Visuals of vehicles wading through waist-deep waters once again highlighted the city’s perennial monsoon woes.
Mumbai’s suburban railway network, often described as the city’s lifeline, was also hit. According to railway officials, trains were running late by 15 to 20 minutes, inconveniencing lakhs of commuters. However, officials clarified that there were no major route diversions or cancellations. The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses, another crucial mode of public transport, continued to operate across their regular routes, although they too were affected by traffic snarls due to flooded roads.
For many Mumbaikars, the morning commute turned into a daunting task. “I left home an hour early, but still reached office late because my bus was crawling through waterlogged roads,” said a commuter from Ghatkopar, echoing the frustration of thousands of daily travelers.
The IMD has also warned of flash floods in parts of the Konkan region, including Mumbai, due to the sheer volume of rainfall expected over the next 48 hours. With rivers and lakes in catchment areas filling rapidly, the risk of overflowing and flooding remains high. Officials are monitoring water levels in dams around Mumbai to decide whether controlled water discharge may be needed.
BMC issues advisoryThe BMC, in its advisory posted on X (formerly Twitter), appealed to citizens not to step out of their homes unless absolutely necessary. For any assistance or official information, please contact the BMC’s main control room at helpline number 1916,” the statement read.
The civic body has also mobilized its disaster management teams to attend to emergencies like tree falls, waterlogging complaints, and rescue operations if required. Hospitals and fire brigades have been asked to stay on high alert.
Rain since SaturdayMumbai has been lashed by heavy rainfall since Saturday, with each passing day intensifying further. Monday marked the third consecutive day of severe precipitation, testing the city’s already fragile drainage system. Meteorologists say that the monsoon trough and active offshore trough near Maharashtra’s coast are fueling the downpour.
While heavy rains are an annual affair in Mumbai, they continue to disrupt normal life significantly, despite repeated promises of infrastructural upgrades. For residents, the hope is that the rain subsides soon, sparing the city from further flooding.
As the red alert remains in force for the next two days, the people of Mumbai are bracing themselves for more waterlogged roads, transport delays, and the familiar monsoon hardships that return year after year.