Mumbai rains: BMC closes roads in Andheri, Chembur and Vikhroli amid flooding

(File pic)

As India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region on Saturday, July 4, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced the closure of several key roads due to severe waterlogging.

According to the BMC, heavy rain has caused the Mogra Nala to overflow, while several smaller drains connected to the Mogra Nala drainage system are also running at full capacity. As a result, waterlogging has been reported on multiple roads, with continuous rainfall slowing the drainage of accumulated rainwater.

High tides could make the situation even worse

BMC also cautioned that the situation could worsen as a high tide of 4.26 metres is expected at 2:50 pm on Saturday, which may further hamper the discharge of stormwater into the sea.

In view of the flooding, the BMC has temporarily closed the following roads to vehicular traffic:

• Noor-e-Ilahi Service Road, Chembur
• Veera Desai Road, Andheri
• Municipal Market Road
• Swami Vivekananda Marg, Andheri
• Andheri Subway
• Huma Mall Junction, Vikhroli
• Gandhinagar Junction
• Road near Paresh Park Market

Highlighting the situation, BMC has also urged the citizens and commuters to avoid these stretches and use alternate routes until water levels recede.

Schools closed on July 4

Meanwhile, in view of the IMD's red alert and the forecast of extremely heavy rainfall, the BMC has declared a holiday for the afternoon session of all schools and colleges in Mumbai on Saturday, July 4, as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students.

The administration has also appealed to residents to remain indoors and step out only if absolutely necessary. Citizens have been advised to stay away from waterlogged areas, follow official advisories, and cooperate with emergency services as heavy rain is expected to continue through the day.

Emergency response teams have been deployed across vulnerable locations, while civic officials continue to monitor the situation as Mumbai experiences one of the heaviest spells of the monsoon season.

BEST announces suspension and route diversion amid heavy rain

Heavy rainfall across Mumbai also prompted the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking to divert, curtail and temporarily suspend several bus routes across the city. The traffic control measures were implemented at multiple locations due to waterlogging, tree falls and flooding. The following changes were in effect as of 12:35 pm on July 4, 2026:

• Premier Road (Don Bosco-Holly Cross Road): Route 322 diverted via Raju Badekar Marg due to waterlogging (from 10:15 am).
• Pedder Road (Nalanda Bus Stop): Routes 76, 62, 86, 305, 88, 83, 28, 89 and others diverted via Bhulabhai Desai Marg after a tree fall (10:30-11:00 am).
• S.V. Road, Ajit Glass, Jogeshwari: Routes 180, 203, 202, 256, 359, 4, 84 diverted via Behram Baug Road (from 11:45 am).
• Aarey Colony Unit No. 25: Routes 186, 460, 489 diverted via Saki Vihar Road (from 11:45 am).Gokhale Road, Dutta Mandir Bus Stop: Route 280 diverted via Link Road after a tree fall (11:30 am-12:35 pm).
• Andheri Subway: Routes 202, 203, 256, 180, 359, 4, 84 and 251, 249, 252, 266, 259, 235, 242, 268 diverted via alternate roads due to flooding (from 12:00 pm).
• Sainath Subway: Routes 460 and 345 diverted via Madina Masjid-Dindoshi Depot; Route 281 curtailed at Sainath (from 12:05 pm).
• Vidyavihar ST Depot: Routes 62, 322, 308, 323 curtailed at Kamani, while Route 613 was temporarily suspended (from 12:30 pm).