Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to a wet and gloomy Saturday as heavy to very heavy rainfall pounded the city since the early hours, severely disrupting daily life and triggering a red alert. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of extremely heavy showers at isolated locations in Mumbai throughout the day, raising concerns over flooding, traffic snarls, and further disruption to essential services.
Visuals Show Airport Tarmac Flooded
One of the worst-hit areas was the Mumbai airport, where flight operations were thrown off schedule due to waterlogging on the tarmac and its surrounding areas. Visuals from the airport showed ground vehicles and airline staff navigating through ankle-deep water as continuous rainfall hampered movement. Several flights were delayed, with airlines cautioning passengers to check for updates before heading to the airport.
Airlines Issues Advisory Cautioning Passengers
IndiGo Airlines, in an advisory issued on its official handles, urged passengers to plan ahead and factor in additional travel time to reach the airport given the roadblocks and slow traffic conditions caused by waterlogging in several parts of the city. “Please check your flight status via our website or app before leaving home. Our teams are closely monitoring the situation to ease delays and support you at every step,” the airline said in its statement, while assuring passengers of assistance during disruptions.
Similarly, SpiceJet also alerted its customers, confirming that all departures and arrivals from Mumbai were likely to be affected by the relentless downpour. “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,” the airline said in a post on X, directing travellers to its official website for live updates.
"Due to heavy rainfall in certain parts of Mumbai, Goa, and Pune, we anticipate slow moving traffic and congestion on roads leading to the airport. To ensure a seamless travel experience, we request you to plan for additional travel time to reach the airport well in time for your flight. Please check your flight status here: http://bit.ly/qpfltsts. We realize that this may inconvenience your travel plans and seek your understanding," wrote Akasa Air in an update on X.
The warnings come on a day when Mumbai is already grappling with widespread waterlogging in low-lying areas such as Sion, Kurla, Andheri and Vile Parle. The heavy rainfall, coupled with high tide in the Arabian Sea later in the day, is expected to worsen the city’s flooding risk. Authorities have asked citizens to avoid non-essential travel and exercise extreme caution while moving outdoors.
With the IMD predicting continued rainfall for the next 24 hours, Mumbaikars are bracing themselves for another challenging day of disrupted commutes, flight delays and potential flooding in vulnerable areas.
