Mumbai Rains: Mithi river breaches danger mark, 350 evacuated from low-lying areas

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a post on X that he is closely monitoring the situation, while Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani is also keeping a constant watch as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai.

मुंबईत अजूनही पाऊस सुरूच असून आज पहाटे 4 ते सकाळी 11 पर्यंत सरासरी 150 मिमी पेक्षा अधिक पाऊस झालेला आहे. उपनगरात हे प्रमाण अधिक आहे. मिठी नदीची उंची 3.9 मीटर इतकी वाढली असून कुर्ला क्रांतीनगर येथून 350 नागरिकांना सुरक्षित ठिकाणी स्थलांतरित करण्यात आले आहेत. मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र…

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 19, 2025

With the tide beginning to recede, the water level of the Mithi River has started to fall, dropping from 3.9 metres to 3.6 metres. The BMC has appealed to citizens to remain cautious and strictly follow advisories issued by the civic body and Mumbai Police amid the continuing heavy rainfall.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with MLA Dilip Lande, visited Kranti Nagar in Kurla West, where water from the Mithi River entered the locality following heavy rainfall at Bailbazar.

The residents of Kranti Nagar were evacuated by the BMC, Mumbai Police, NDRF, Fire Brigade, and local volunteers.

Mumbai traffic update: Rain mayhem in Mumbai; Andheri, Kurla, Hindmata, Sion, Thane worst-hit

Mumbai’s railway network was severely hit for the second consecutive day on Tuesday as heavy rains disrupted both rail and road services.

Western Railway reported delays, while Central Railway announced a complete suspension of suburban services between CSMT and Kurla. “On the Harbour line, services were suspended from 11:20 am, and on the Main line, fast services were halted from 11:25 am,” a railway spokesperson confirmed.

Earlier in the day, Central Railway had warned that the Mithi River had crossed the danger mark, forcing the BMC to shut the gates, which in turn led to water accumulation on tracks. As a precaution, slow line services were also suspended from 11:45 am, bringing CR’s suburban operations to a total halt. 

Additionally, Virar-Vasai services on the Western Railway remain suspended.

For Tuesday, the IMD forecast "very heavy to extremely heavy" rainfall in Mumbai and suburbs, with occasional gusty winds reaching 45-55 kmph.

Torrential rains inundated low-lying areas, disrupted road traffic and slowed local train services, hampering normal life in the city and neighbouring regions.

The civic body announced that government and semi-government offices would remain closed on Tuesday, while urging private establishments to allow employees to work from home and avoid unnecessary travel.

In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the closure was a precautionary step because of continuous heavy rainfall and the IMD’s ‘red alert’ warning.