Heavy rains in Mumbai have severely disrupted normal life in many parts of the city. Many local trains have been cancelled following the rains, schools have been closed and authorities have also declared holiday for government offices. They have also urged private organisations to either declare a holiday or allow work from home to its workforce amid the torrential rains.

The Andheri Subway, a crucial east-west link in the western suburbs, remained shut for traffic throughout Monday after being submerged under water. The Mumbai Traffic Police closed the stretch Monday morning and till last evening it was still under water.

According to a Mid-Day report, between May 26 and August 18, the subway has been closed 24 times due to flooding. Over the weekend, following a red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department, the subway was also shut on August 16.

The repeated closures have triggered frustration among commuters, many of whom vented on social media. A Twitter post by user Hargun Singh, which has gone viral, suggested renaming the stretch “Andheri Lake – Picnic Spot” instead of a subway. “Enough of playing with people’s lives and expectations! If you cannot make Andheri Subway functional, then declare it as a permanent lake and stop pretending it’s a road,” Singh wrote. 

He further accused the BJP government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of failing to take accountability. “Today, Mumbai is drowning while thekedar’s of the city enjoy the rains,” Singh wrote.

Traffic diversion adds to woes

With waterlogging making the subway impassable, the traffic police diverted vehicles via the Gokhale Bridge, which added a 1.5 km detour and the Balasaheb Thackeray Flyover, which increased travel distance by about 3 km. The diversions worsened congestion on SV Road and the Western Express Highway.

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BMC officials said the subway’s chronic flooding is the result of its geography. Situated in a low-lying catchment of the Mogra nullah, it rapidly accumulates water during intense rainfall. At one stretch, the nullah takes a sharp 90-degree turn, slowing the outflow and worsening inundation during downpours.

Heavy rains batter Mumbai

On the second consecutive day of heavy rainfall on Tuesday, eight people lost their lives and crops spread over 14 lakh acres were damaged. Mumbai recorded 350 mm of rain in 24 hours, triggering flooding in several areas. Around 350 residents were rescued and shifted to safer locations after the Mithi river crossed the danger mark for a few hours. To assist in relief operations, five NDRF teams remained deployed across the city.