Mumbai Braces for Monsoon Mayhem: Thunderstorms Loom as Trains Crawl and Lakes Overflow

MUMBAI — As the monsoon season refuses to loosen its grip, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed Mumbai under a heightened state of vigilance, issuing a yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and intense downpours that could disrupt the city’s relentless rhythm. After a fleeting pause over the weekend, the skies unleashed fresh fury on Monday, leaving residents to navigate flooded streets and delayed commutes once more. With September’s rainfall already eclipsing historical norms, authorities urge caution amid forecasts of more deluges through the week’s end.

The IMD’s stark warning, detailed in its Tuesday advisory, underscores the precarious weather ahead. “On September 22, the IMD issued a yellow alert warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and heavy rainfall across Mumbai and its adjoining areas,” the bulletin states, with the inclement conditions poised to persist. Isolated bursts of heavy showers are anticipated as early as September 26, potentially exacerbating the chaos in low-lying zones. Observatories recorded stark contrasts in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. Monday: Santacruz logged a modest 3 mm, while Colaba’s coastal gauge tallied 20 mm. These episodes triggered familiar woes, including water accumulation on Veera Desai Road and the submerged Andheri subway, turning routine errands into ordeals.

Mumbai’s lifeline—the suburban rail network—bore the brunt of the onslaught. Central and Harbour line services lagged by 10 to 15 minutes during peak hours, stranding throngs of commuters on sweltering platforms and amplifying the daily grind. Though milder than infamous past breakdowns, the delays spotlight persistent vulnerabilities, particularly where tracks dip into flood-prone basins. Should Tuesday’s anticipated rains intensify, officials anticipate comparable hiccups, advising passengers to monitor real-time advisories via railway apps.

Yet, the rains bring a silver lining for the parched metropolis. The city’s seven reservoirs, which feed its 20 million souls, now swell at 99.67% capacity—holding 14.42 lakh million litres—securing supplies well into the dry months. This marks a slight edge over last year’s tally of 14.26 lakh million litres on the same date, a boon credited to the season’s generosity. The IMD’s Santacruz station has tallied nearly 400 mm since early September, dwarfing the monthly benchmark of 383.5 mm and signaling one of the wettest starts on record.

Looking ahead, Mumbaikars face a rollercoaster of conditions. September 23 promises partly cloudy expanses punctuated by moderate rain or thunderstorms, laced with gusts up to 40 kmph; highs will nudge 29°C, lows 24°C. The 24th shifts to overcast with steady moderate showers, sans formal alerts. By the 25th, persistent cloud cover holds temperatures steady at 30°C maximum and 24°C minimum. The 26th heralds heavier assaults under brooding skies, followed by moderated falls on the 27th and 28th, with no elevated warnings in sight.

For now, the city hunkers down, umbrellas at the ready, as the IMD and local agencies like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation coordinate responses. While waterlogging tests infrastructure and tempers, the replenished lakes offer quiet reassurance.