Heavy rains in India’s financial hub, Mumbai, have led to chaos as roadways become unpassable due to flooding, causing flight and train services to halt. Many areas are now submerged with videos depicting residents swimming through the streets amid heaps of garbage washed out from clogged drainage systems. Authorities reported rescuing approximately 600 stranded individuals from a monorail that halted its journey mid-way, leaving at least 23 passengers requiring medical attention for suffocation. Schools and universities remain closed as 350 individuals were evacuated from flood-risk areas and relocated to makeshift shelters.
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Mumbai and surrounding districts, forecasting continuous heavy rains, although they expect weather conditions to improve later in the week. The monsoon season, typically associated with significant rainfall in Maharashtra state, is experiencing abnormal intensity this year, with 800mm of rain falling just within the past four days. The state has reported 21 fatalities related to the rain in this time span.
Mumbai's iconic local trains, a crucial transport method for countless daily commuters, faced heavy interruptions, causing long waits as services were significantly delayed. Passengers reported that scheduled departures from the previous night were now leaving the next morning, further compounding the chaos. Flight operations from the bustling international airport also faltered, resulting in the cancellation of around 50 flights, with airlines warning of potential congestion as adverse weather persists.
The closure of local transportation wasn't without its dramatic moments. A crowded monorail system halted mid-track, forcing fire and rescue teams to deploy cranes to retrieve trapped passengers, an incident attributed to overcrowding.
As frustration mounts, opposition leaders have criticized local government for poor disaster preparedness. Aaditya Thackeray of the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) party claimed there has been a "complete governance breakdown," pointing out that warnings had been issued and yet flooding worsened, particularly at the airport and around newer infrastructures. Residents took to social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction with the city's infrastructure and planning, highlighting that despite improvements in transportation networks, investments in critical drainage and sustainable infrastructure have lagged behind the growing urban population's needs.
Follow BBC News India for updates on the situation.
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Mumbai and surrounding districts, forecasting continuous heavy rains, although they expect weather conditions to improve later in the week. The monsoon season, typically associated with significant rainfall in Maharashtra state, is experiencing abnormal intensity this year, with 800mm of rain falling just within the past four days. The state has reported 21 fatalities related to the rain in this time span.
Mumbai's iconic local trains, a crucial transport method for countless daily commuters, faced heavy interruptions, causing long waits as services were significantly delayed. Passengers reported that scheduled departures from the previous night were now leaving the next morning, further compounding the chaos. Flight operations from the bustling international airport also faltered, resulting in the cancellation of around 50 flights, with airlines warning of potential congestion as adverse weather persists.
The closure of local transportation wasn't without its dramatic moments. A crowded monorail system halted mid-track, forcing fire and rescue teams to deploy cranes to retrieve trapped passengers, an incident attributed to overcrowding.
As frustration mounts, opposition leaders have criticized local government for poor disaster preparedness. Aaditya Thackeray of the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) party claimed there has been a "complete governance breakdown," pointing out that warnings had been issued and yet flooding worsened, particularly at the airport and around newer infrastructures. Residents took to social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction with the city's infrastructure and planning, highlighting that despite improvements in transportation networks, investments in critical drainage and sustainable infrastructure have lagged behind the growing urban population's needs.
Follow BBC News India for updates on the situation.
