Mumbai reels under deluge as two killed in landslide, flights and traffic thrown into chaos

Mumbai was brought to its knees on August 16 after a night of relentless rain left vast swathes of the city inundated, killed two people in a deadly landslide, and threw air and road traffic into disarray.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai and neighboring Raigad, warning of “extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places” after several pockets of the city recorded more than 200 mm of rain within hours.

In Vikhroli West, tragedy struck when a landslide crashed into a residential society in Varsha Nagar, killing two people and injuring two others. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said rescue teams rushed to the spot and were working to clear the debris.

Across the city, floodwaters turned arterial roads into rivers. Waterlogging was reported from Sion, Kurla, Chembur, Andheri, and other low-lying areas, with knee-deep water accumulating on Shanmukhanand Hall Road in Sion. Vehicles lay stranded on the Western Express Highway, while the Andheri subway was shut, throwing commuter movement into turmoil.

Rain gauges told the story of the night’s fury: Vikhroli recorded 248.5 mm of rain in 21 hours, followed by Santacruz (232.5 mm) and Sion (221 mm). Between 11 p.m. August 15 and 5 a.m. August 16 alone, Marol Fire Department logged 216 mm, Santacruz’s Nariyalwadi School 213 mm, and Tagore Nagar School in Vikhroli 213 mm. Other locations, including Dadar Fire Department and Worli Seaface, saw over 130 mm in just five hours.

The downpour disrupted operations at Mumbai airport, with several flights delayed. IndiGo issued an advisory urging passengers to check their flight status before leaving home. “Our teams are closely monitoring the situation to ease delays and support you at every step,” the airline said.

Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious, warning that the intense rain is likely to persist through the weekend.