Heavy Rain Triggers Orange Alert in Mumbai; Red Alert for Thane and Raigad Amid Flood Risk

Mumbai woke up to a rain-drenched morning on Tuesday, July 15, as heavy downpours battered the city and its suburbs overnight. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and surrounding districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and potential flooding in multiple areas.

The downpour caused traffic congestion in several parts of the city and disrupted local train schedules, while major airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air issued advisories anticipating flight delays and cancellations due to the intense weather.

Red Alert for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri

As per the IMD’s latest bulletin, a Red Alert has been issued for:

Mumbai Suburban
Thane
Raigad
Ratnagiri

A Red Alert indicates the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204.5 mm in 24 hours, with the potential to cause waterlogging, flash floods, landslides, and widespread traffic disruption.

Civic authorities have been placed on high alert, and citizens are advised to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary, especially in low-lying and coastal areas prone to inundation.

Orange and 🟡 Yellow Alerts in Other Districts

In addition to Mumbai and Thane, the IMD has placed several other districts under Orange and Yellow Alerts, indicating varying degrees of rainfall intensity:

Orange Alert:

Pune
Satara
Ahmednagar

Orange alerts imply rainfall between 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm in 24 hours, which could lead to moderate disruption to daily life including transportation, power outages, and communication issues.

Yellow Alert:

Palghar
Gadchiroli
Sangli
Kolhapur
Gondia

A Yellow Alert suggests heavy rainfall in isolated places, and serves as an early warning for residents and local authorities.

IMD Forecast: More Rains, Thunderstorms and Winds Ahead

According to the IMD, the current spell of rainfall is expected to continue for the next four days. The forecast predicts:

Moderate to heavy rainfall in most parts of Mumbai
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning
Strong winds reaching speeds of 30–50 km/h
Short-term warnings for Thane and parts of Mumbai in the next 3–4 hours

Residents are being urged to avoid stepping out during peak rain hours and to stay away from flood-prone zones, including subways, nullahs, and beaches.

Flight Disruptions: Travel Advisory Issued by Airlines

The heavy rains have begun to impact air travel to and from Mumbai.

Airlines that have issued advisories:

IndiGo
SpiceJet
Akasa Air

Passengers flying from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) have been advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport, as visibility and runway operations may be affected due to intense rain and waterlogging.

Some morning flights were delayed, and further delays or rescheduling are likely if weather conditions worsen.

Traffic and Train Update: Mumbai on High Alert

Mumbai’s roads witnessed severe congestion during morning hours on July 15, especially in areas such as:

Andheri
Sion
Chembur
Kurla
Mulund

Local train services on the Central and Western Railways were reported to be running late by 15–20 minutes, with some harbor line trains facing technical delays.

The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) has activated its disaster control teams and opened emergency helplines for residents in need of assistance.

Schools and Offices: No Closure Yet

As of now, the BMC has not announced any blanket closure of schools or offices. However, private institutions and IT companies have offered remote working options to employees.

Schools in waterlogged areas have been advised to monitor the situation closely, and may announce closures depending on the rainfall intensity through the day.