Heavy Rains Trigger Thane Red Alert And Disrupt Over 330 Mumbai Flights
Heavy monsoon rains and gusty winds lashed Thane and neighboring coastal districts on Sunday and Monday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert and triggering severe travel disruptions. The weather conditions made Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) the world's most disrupted airport on Sunday.
According to Flightradar24, the severe weather on Sunday led to the cancellation of four flights, the diversion of approximately 13 flights, and delays for more than 330 flights. Runway operations at the airport were suspended for nearly an hour due to poor visibility and strong winds reaching up to 42 knots, before resuming once conditions improved.
Airlines, including IndiGo and Akasa Air, issued travel advisories warning passengers that adverse weather could cause network-wide delays. While normal flight operations resumed on Monday, passengers were advised to check their flight status before departing for the airport.
The IMD's red alert for Thane, Mumbai, Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri on Monday warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds of 70 to 80 kmph. The weather department also warned of a moderate to high flash-flood risk over 24 hours. Because the ground is already saturated after days of continuous rain, officials noted that even moderate showers could cause flooding in low-lying areas.
For Tuesday, the weather agency downgraded Thane, Mumbai, and Ratnagiri to an orange alert, indicating that heavy rainfall is likely to persist, while retaining the red alert for Palghar and Raigad.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid travel as much as possible, warning that strong winds, falling trees, and waterlogging pose a serious risk to life and property.
The weather forecasts also impacted state administration, leading to the adjournment of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the day on Monday. Speaker Rahul Narwekar urged legislators and the public to cooperate with authorities and support ongoing relief efforts.
