IMD Issues Red Alert For Thane As Heavy Rain Disrupts Trains And Traffic
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for Thane district following heavy overnight rainfall that battered the region between July 1 and July 2. The intense downpour has caused widespread waterlogging in low-lying areas, stranded commuters, and delayed suburban train services across the metropolitan area.
The weather department issued a Nowcast warning at 7 a.m. on July 2, advising citizens to take precautions due to moderate to intense spells of rain expected in Thane, Mumbai, Palghar, and Raigad. While Thane is under a Red Alert for July 2, neighboring Palghar has a Red Alert scheduled for July 4. Mumbai remains under an Orange Alert for heavy to extremely heavy rain at isolated places until July 5.
According to data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), several areas recorded rainfall exceeding 200 mm in the 24 hours leading up to July 2. Mithanagar in Mulund recorded 225 mm, while Paspoli in Powai registered 236 mm. Other high-recording stations included Santacruz at 235 mm, Tagore Nagar in Vikhroli at 234 mm, and Mankhurd fire station at 223 mm.
The heavy rain has severely impacted local transport. Suburban railway services are running behind schedule due to localized waterlogging on the tracks. This follows major disruptions on Wednesday, when the Central Railway cancelled 70 suburban trains across its main, harbour, and trans-harbour lines, while the Western line saw nine cancellations.
Road traffic has also been hit. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyanarayan Choudhari stated that traffic police are working with civic authorities to manage vehicular movement. Authorities activated counter-flow lanes on the Eastern and Western Express Highways on Wednesday to ease congestion, and similar road diversions are expected to continue.
The IMD has warned that widespread heavy to extremely heavy rainfall will continue over the Konkan region and adjoining ghat areas from July 1 to July 7, advising fishermen to avoid the sea.
