Mumbai receives heavy rains for third day; schools and colleges shut as red alert issued

Mumbai continued to receive heavy rains for the third consecutive day on Monday (August 18, 2025), prompting authorities to declare a holiday for all schools and colleges operating in the afternoon session as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of extremely heavy rainfall.

The city and its suburbs, Raigarh, Ratnagiri and Thane districts of Maharashtra, have been put on red alert for two days. Palghar, Sindhudurg, Aurangabad, Hingoli, Jalgaon, Jalna, Nanded, Parbhani districts of Maharashtra were kept on orange alert and the other districts were kept on yellow alert. Red alert is given to locations where rain are expected to cross 204.5 mm in the next 24 hours. 

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani announced the closure of all educational institutions operating after 12 p.m., amid continuous rainfall since morning.

The relentless downpour led to waterlogging in several low-lying areas, with roads getting inundated and affecting vehicular movement across the city. Areas like Andheri Subway and Lokhandwala Complex witnessed water accumulation, impacting traffic flow.

Local trains, considered the lifeline of the metropolis, were running late by 15 to 20 minutes, according to officials and commuters. However, there was no diversion of bus routes operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking.

Rainfall intensity increases

After heavy overnight rainfall, the intensity further increased from 9 a.m. on Monday morning.

Various areas in Mumbai city and suburbs are reporting downpours. Tata Power Chembur has reported 91.5 mm, Vikhroli 78.5 mm, Juhu 60.0 mm, Sion 58.5 mm, Bandra 50.0mm, Santacruz 47.2 mm and Colaba with 29.0 mm of rain are being reported.

Mumbai, Thane and Raigad has been kept on red alert till 19 August 2025, and orange alert on August 20 and yellow alert on August 21,

Traffic reportedly slowed in Western Express Highway among other areas.

Safety advisory

The BMC administration in a post on X urged citizens to step out of their homes only if absolutely necessary. For assistance and official information, citizens can contact BMC’s main control room at helpline number 1916.

Heavy rains have been lashing Mumbai since Saturday, with Monday marking the third consecutive day of intense precipitation.

(With inputs from PTI)