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After 48 hours of non-stop torrential rainfall, Mumbai has been left crippled with waterlogged roads and transport disruption. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai on Wednesday, August 20. This comes just a day after yet another spell of downpour lashed the Maharashtra capital for the fifth straight day, crippling normal life with widespread flooding, halted train services, diverted flights and evacuation efforts in low-lying areas. In some parts of Mumbai school and colleges are closed, private companies were also urged to let employees work from home after the city recorded nearly 1000 mm of rainfall. (Express Photo)
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Daily life has come to a grinding halt, with residents struggling to commute and civic authorities overwhelmed by the extent of flooding across the city. (Express Photo)
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According to the latest IMD forecast, red alerts have now been issued for Pune, Thane, and Raigad districts as well, signalling a risk of intense rainfall in the coming days. (Express Photo)
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Extremely heavy rainfall is predicted in Mumbai. However, there is waist-deep flooding in several areas such as Thane, Hindmata, Worli and Andheri. (Express Photo)
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Mumbai’s monorail broke down between two stations in Chembur, leaving over 200 passengers trapped for nearly three hours. The disruption occurred after a power mishap halted the train mid-air. The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd confirmed the breakdown, while the MMRDA deployed rescue teams to bring down passengers safely using scissor lifts and the fire brigade. (Express Photo)
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The rescue operation was carried out with great difficulty, but all passengers were evacuated without injuries. This incident highlighted the city’s fragile infrastructure, especially in handling transportation systems during extreme weather conditions. (Express Photo)
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also reviewed the situation and highlighted that around 10 deaths have already been reported due to rain-related incidents across the state. The situation remains tense, with safety becoming the top priority for authorities. (Express Photo)
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Adding to the chaos, fake social media posts under BMC’s name created panic by falsely announcing school closures for August 20. The BMC has strongly refuted these claims while urging people to rely only on official updates. (Express Photo)
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Although the BMC has not officially declared a school holiday in Mumbai, nearby regions like Lonavala have shut schools due to heavy rain warnings. Mumbai University has also rescheduled its examinations originally set for August 19 to August 23 to ensure the safety of students. With persistent rainfall, residents have been advised to step out only when absolutely necessary. (Express Photo)
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Mumbai’s lifeline, its suburban train network, faced severe disruption due to flooding on multiple routes. Services on the Central Railway’s main line between CSMT and Thane were restored by 7:30 pm on Tuesday, but the harbour line remained suspended well past midnight due to floodwaters submerging tracks. (Express Photo)
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The waterlogged roads left thousands of daily commuters stranded, forcing many to wade through waist-deep water or wait for hours. This highlighted once again how rainfall brings the city’s overburdened transport system to a halt. (Express Photo)
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Beyond Mumbai, heavy rainfall and a sudden cloudburst in Nanded on August 18 triggered a flood-like situation, worsening conditions in the hilly regions. The calamity has left five people missing while the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued more than 300 individuals stranded in affected areas. (Express Photo)
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While Mumbai’s urban infrastructure continues to suffer, the rains have also unleashed devastating effects on rural Maharashtra. Crops have been washed away, villages are facing overflowing runoff, and livestock has been displaced. (Express Photo)
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A red alert has been issued in ghat regions after fatalities were reported from Beed, Mumbai, and Nanded. According to the Maharashtra Disaster Management Department, six people have died across the state due to incessant rains and flood-linked incidents. Villages have been evacuated and several residents shifted to relief shelters for safety. (Express Photo)
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Many farmers are staring at massive losses just ahead of the crucial harvest season. The government has begun relocating residents from the worst-hit regions to safer shelters, but discontent is growing among locals who feel unprepared for such sudden downpours. (Express Photo)
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For Mumbai and beyond, this season’s heavy rains have once again exposed the vulnerabilities of infrastructure, agricultural systems, and disaster preparedness mechanisms in India’s financial capital. (Express Photo)