Mumbai rains: Red Alert issued for very heavy rainfall today | See IMD forecast

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red’ alert for very heavy rainfall in Mumbai today (8 July). The city has been witnessing severe water logging, and suspended railway and flight services since morning.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, Raigad and Ratnagiri are also very likely to witness very heavy rains today, and the Met Department has issued a red alert for these districts too.

“Heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely,” the weather agency said in its forecast for Mumbai, Raigad and Ratnagiri.

Alerting about the same, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in a post on X (formerly Twitter) warned Mumbaikars against stepping out of homes today.

“The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'Red Alert' for Mumbai. Mumbaikars, if not required, avoid stepping out of your home. Please do not believe any rumors,” the BMC said.

"Please dial 1916, the contact number of the Main Control Room of the BMC, for help and official information if required," it added.

101.8 mm of rainfall in 9 hours

Mumbai city recorded 101.8 mm of rainfall in nine hours on Monday, nearly seven times more than its suburbs in the same period, while some other parts of Maharashtra also experienced heavy showers, said the weather office.

The Colaba weather station, which records weather parameters for the island city, registered 101.8 mm of rainfall from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, said Sushma Nair, scientist, IMD Mumbai.

On the contrary, the Santacruz weather station, which measures weather parameters for Mumbai's suburbs, recorded only 14.8 mm of rainfall from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, she said.

50 flights cancelled

Heavy rainfall and low visibility on Monday morning severely disrupted flight operations at the Mumbai airport.

At least 50 flights scheduled to land in the country's financial capital have been either cancelled or diverted to several other locations, including Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Indore.