Four dead and flights cancelled after flood alert raised in Mumbai following heavy rains

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At least four people died and dozens of flights and trains were cancelled after heavy rains flooded Mumbai’s streets and triggered a red alert.

Some parts of India’s financial hub of 21 million people received more than 250mm of rain in just one day, almost five times the monthly rainfall in London. According to the India Meteorological Department, this was the highest rainfall in a single day in September since 2020.

At least four people died in rain-related incidents. A woman drowned in an open sewer and two labourers were killed by a lightning strike in Kalyan area. Another woman reportedly drowned near a waterfall in Khopoli town, about 80 km from Mumbai.

Operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai were severely disrupted, with at least 36 flights cancelled, causing delays and disruptions for thousands of travellers.

Rail services, on which millions of people depend every day, were also severely affected, particularly between Kurla and Thane, where passengers were stranded due to flooding.

Mumbai and its surrounding districts remained under a red alert and authorities urged residents to stay in their homes and avoid non-essential travel.

Streets across the city, including Andheri, Chembur and Vikhroli, were flooded. Schools and colleges were closed as a precautionary measure.

The weather service is forecasting further heavy rainfall in the coming days.