Heavy rains inundated roads and railways on Monday in Mumbai, India’s financial hub, leading to flight disruptions and the closure of some schools and colleges. Over a span of six hours until 7am (0130 GMT), the city, home to 12 million people, received more than 300mm (11.8 inches) of rain, according to municipal officials. Further heavy showers were expected later in the day.
Commuters navigated through knee-deep water that submerged vehicles in various areas, causing significant traffic congestion on both the Eastern and Western Express highways. Railway authorities had to cancel several long-distance trains due to waterlogged tracks, with images showing suburban trains halted on inundated lines—a critical mode of daily transport for millions.
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At Mumbai’s airport, more than 250 flights were delayed and around 30 were cancelled, as reported by Flightradar24 due to heavy rains.
The deluge followed unprecedented rainfall in New Delhi, where a fatal airport roof collapse occurred just days prior. Monsoon heavy rains have triggered floods and landslides across northern and eastern India, and in Nepal, claiming at least 11 lives.
In Assam, northeastern India, over two million people have been affected by river flooding, impacting Kaziranga National Park and resulting in the drowning of six one-horned rhinoceroses. Since May, floods and rain-related incidents have led to 66 fatalities in the region.
In Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state bordering Nepal, flooding has affected 31 villages, according to state authorities.
