On Monday, May 26, 2025, South Mumbai faced a severe cloudburst, with the Nariman Point Automatic Weather Station recording 104 mm of rainfall between 9 AM and 10 AM. This intense downpour led to significant disruptions across the city.
Transportation Disruptions:
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Local Trains: Services on the Central, Western, and Harbour lines experienced substantial delays due to waterlogged tracks.
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Road Traffic: Major roads, including JJ Flyover and Nepensea Road, were submerged, causing massive traffic congestion.
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Bus Services: Several bus routes were diverted as roads became impassable.
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Air Travel: Flight operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were disrupted, with over 250 flights affected. Airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India issued travel advisories to passengers.
Hospital Impact:
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at KEM Hospital was flooded with inch-deep water, raising concerns about patient safety and hygiene.
Weather Alerts:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued orange and red alerts for Mumbai and its suburban areas, warning of continued thunderstorms, heavy rain, and gusty winds in the next 3-4 hours.
Early Monsoon Arrival:
The southwest monsoon has arrived in Maharashtra ten days earlier than usual, with its onset on May 25. This early arrival has raised concerns among agricultural experts about its impact on Kharif crop sowing.
Visuals:
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Waterlogged Streets: Videos on social media platforms show vehicles wading through flooded streets in areas like Nepensea Road.
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Hospital Flooding: Footage from KEM Hospital reveals the extent of waterlogging in critical care units.