Normal life in Mumbai was thrown out of gear after the city witnessed heavy rainfall on Monday. The downpour on July 8 disrupted flight operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai, prompting several airlines, including SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Vistara, to issue advisories for their passengers.
“Heavy traffic congestion and slow vehicle movement are expected en route to Mumbai Airport today due to weather conditions. Customers are advised to allow more time for their journey to the airport,” said Vistara in a post on X.
Meanwhile, IndiGo also issued a similar advisory and said, “Flights to/from Mumbai are impacted due to heavy rains. To opt for an alternate flight or claim a full refund, https://bit.ly/3MxSLeE or feel free to reach out to our on-ground team for any immediate assistance. “
SpiceJet also issued an advisory and said, “Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via http://bit.ly/2tG9xBx.”
In a statement, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, said, “Today heavy rains and low visibility led to the suspension of runway operations from 2:22 am to 3:40 am. 27 flight diversions were reported. Flights diverted to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Indore, etc. Currently, priority is being given to arrivals, delaying departures, and consequential changes that were made to accommodate diverted flights.”
Rain chaos in Mumbai
According to the IMD, Mumbai can expect moderate to heavy rainfall today, with the possibility of thunderstorms at night. Mumbai experienced severe disruptions due to heavy rainfall, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reporting over 300 mm of rain in six hours from 1 am to 7 am. Schools were shut down, and exams were cancelled scheduled for today due to heavy rains.
The downpour led to the cancellation of train services by Central Railways, as waterlogging affected stations like Sion, Bhandup, and areas along the Harbour Line. The civic body declared a holiday for the first session in all BMC, government, and private schools and colleges to mitigate inconvenience to students.
BMC urged citizens to disregard rumors and assured that its entire machinery is operational. Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses also faced diversions due to waterlogging in various parts of Mumbai, including Worli and Kurla East.