Thu Sep 26 16:54:25 UTC 2024: ## Mumbai Batters Heavy Rainfall, 4 Deaths Amidst Flooding and Disruptions
**Mumbai, September 26, 2024:** Torrential rainfall wreaked havoc across Mumbai and surrounding areas on Wednesday, claiming the lives of at least four people and causing widespread flooding and disruptions to public transport.
The city experienced severe waterlogging, with key roads and the Western Express Highway submerged, the worst flooding since the 2005 monsoon. A 45-year-old woman, Vimal Gaikwad, tragically drowned in an open drain in Andheri’s MIDC area, while three others were killed by lightning strikes in Thane district.
Schools and colleges across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad were declared closed on Thursday as a precautionary measure.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Mumbai, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall, while a red alert was issued for Palghar. Private forecasters, Mumbai Nowcast and Mumbai Rains, also issued red alerts for Mumbai and Thane.
The heavy rains led to severe disruptions in train services, with local trains halting on the Central line and causing major delays. At least 16 flights were diverted from Mumbai airport to other destinations.
Aaditya Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the Eknath Shinde-led government for its failure to provide relief mechanisms during the heavy rains and flooding.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on Thursday and ordered a high-level inquiry into the death of the woman who drowned in the open drain.
The IMD forecasts the monsoon in Maharashtra to withdraw by October 5.
Despite the heavy rainfall, the city gradually began to return to normalcy on Thursday morning. Train services resumed, albeit with some delays, and vehicular traffic returned to the roads.
First Piper 