Mumbai rains leave Virar commuters stranded as floods disrupt trains and roads

Vehicles make their way through a waterlogged road after heavy rainfall, at Vasai-Virar in Palghar district, Maharashtra, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Pics/PTI

For thousands of office-goers returning to Virar and neighbouring suburbs on Tuesday, getting home became an ordeal that stretched late into the night.

As floodwaters disrupted Western Railway services and submerged roads, commuters walked for kilometres along railway tracks, paid up to Rs 500 for tractor rides through flooded streets, or remained stranded inside packed trains.

Mumbai Monsoon Page

Residents said three days of relentless rain had turned large parts of Virar, Nalasopara, and Vasai into a virtual wetland, cutting off electricity and mobile networks, flooding roads and bringing normal life to a standstill.

How commuters got home

>> Walked for kilometres on railway tracks
>> Paid Rs 500 for tractor rides
>> Waited hours for trains
>> Travelled in overcrowded coaches
>> Walked through flooded, unlit roads after reaching Virar
>> No buses or autorickshaws available

Resident Speak

Deepu, Virar resident
"The last three days were hell. Roads were flooded, there was no electricity, no mobile network, and even drinking water was a problem. We somehow managed. Things are much better today (Wednesday). The rain has stopped, the water has receded, electricity is back, and mobile networks are working again. It's hard to describe how relieved we feel."

By the numbers

6+ hours: Churchgate-Virar journey for some commuters

Rs 500: Fare charged for tractor rides

2-2.5 hours: Walk along the railway tracks with stranded commuters

200: people queued for tractors near Vasai Road station

15 minutes: Normal Vasai-Virar train journey

1.5 hours: Time taken due to flooding

Up to 4 ft: Water level on some Virar roads

Commuter Speak

Viral Madhani, a Virar resident who works in Churchgate
"I boarded a Virar train from Churchgate at around 7 pm. At Naigaon, an announcement said the train would terminate at Vasai because of waterlogging. We found tractors charging R500 to Virar, but nearly 200 people were waiting. After waiting for almost two hours, we boarded another train at 12.05 am. The 15-minute journey from Vasai to Virar took 1.5 hours. After reaching Virar at 1.35 am, I walked for 20 minutes through roads in complete darkness. Water ranged from 1.5 feet near the station to nearly 4 feet on Viva College Road. I finally reached home around 2 am."

Neeraj Waghela, Virar resident
"Returning from Andheri, my train terminated at Vasai due to waterlogging. I then walked for nearly two to two-and-a-half hours along the railway tracks, crossing Nalasopara before finally reaching Virar."

A commuter who travelled by tractor
"The roads were so flooded, and train services had stopped. I paid R500 for a tractor ride. If authorities know what Virar and Nalasopara residents face every monsoon, why can't they operate emergency tractor or boat services themselves instead of leaving us at the mercy of private operators?"