Mumbai rains: IMD predicts heavy downpours, strong winds for July 8; rail services disrupted

Mumbai: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds across Mumbai and neighbouring districts on Wednesday, as severe downpours have already caused waterlogging and disrupted rail services on the Western Railway network.

According to the IMD, Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad are anticipated to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated areas in Palghar potentially facing extremely heavy downpours. Wind speeds reaching 60 to 70 kmph are also projected over sections of the Konkan region, though the weather office noted that precipitation is expected to ease gradually from 9 July. Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are also forecast to receive heavy rainfall in isolated patches.

The weather bureau warned that the intense rainfall could trigger localised flooding in low-lying sectors, flash floods, and landslides in vulnerable zones, alongside disruptions to road, rail, air, and ferry operations. Sea conditions along the Konkan coast are expected to be rough, and damage could occur to crops and fragile structures. Members of the public have been advised to avoid flooded areas and verify traffic reports before commencing travel. Following the initial heavy spell, light to moderate rainfall is expected across most districts from 12 July.

Meanwhile, waterlogging in the Navsari-Maroli section following intense downpours has affected rail operations within the Mumbai Central Division of Western Railway.

Train No. 20908 Bhuj-Dadar Sayajinagari Express, which began its journey on 7 July, was short-terminated at Gandhidham and cancelled for the remainder of its route to Dadar.

Numerous services scheduled to operate on Wednesday, 8 July, have been cancelled. These include the Dadar-Bhuj Sayajinagari Express, the Ahmedabad-Bandra Terminus Karnavati Express and its return service, the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central AC Double Decker Express and its return service, the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Tejas Express and its return service, and the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express and its return service.

Furthermore, Train No. 16311 Sri Ganganagar-Thiruvananthapuram North Express, which set off on 7 July, has been rerouted via the Surat-Jalgaon-Manmad-Igatpuri-Kalyan-Panvel alignment. Western Railway has urged passengers to monitor live train updates using the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or the Rail Madad helpline (139).

On Tuesday, the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) advised farmers to align their agricultural tasks with changing weather patterns, noting that a considerable reduction in rainfall is anticipated in parts of the state from 8 July.

While certain regions of Maharashtra have grappled with heavy downpours, the state's Agriculture Department has urged farmers in districts with deficient rainfall to delay sowing operations until the soil retains adequate moisture.

In a statement published on X, the CMO noted: "Although there was heavy rainfall in Mumbai and Western Maharashtra at the beginning of July, rainfall across various parts of the state so far has been below average. Particularly, the amount of rainfall is low in Khandesh (Dhule and Nandurbar), Central Maharashtra (Ahilyanagar and Solapur), parts of Western Vidarbha, and some areas of Marathwada."

ANI