Mumbai, Indias financial capital, came to a standstill on Monday due to heavy rain, and relief appears distant as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Tuesday, July 9. Schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, and rural parts of Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg will remain closed on Tuesday. This applies to primary and secondary schools, as well as junior and senior colleges.Mumbai residents faced another dreary Tuesday, mirroring Mondays relentless rain. The continuous downpour wreaked havoc on the city and its suburbs, disrupting suburban train services and flight operations. Daily life was severely impacted, with incidents like an elderly woman dying from burn injuries caused by a short circuit. Residents navigated through waterlogged streets and heavy traffic, enduring significant disruption.Some areas in Mumbai received over 300 mm of rainfall within six hours ending at 7 am, leading to widespread flooding of roads and low-lying areas. The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai until July 12.IMD Issues Red AlertThe IMD has issued a red alert for Mumbai, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall on Tuesday. BMC commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagarani has urged residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. The BMC has put all its disaster management teams on high alert. Citizens are advised not to panic and can contact the BMCs disaster management cell on 1916 for any assistance, the statement said.Advisory for Students and ResidentsSchools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, and rural parts of Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg will remain closed on Tuesday. The Thane Zilla Parishad has also declared a holiday for rural areas. Examinations scheduled for Tuesday at Mumbai University have been postponed, with new dates to be announced soon.The Mumbai division of the Central Railways advised passengers to avoid travelling unless necessary. In view of tomorrows forecast for heavy rains in Mumbai & Thane Districts, passengers are requested to refrain from travelling unless unavoidable, it stated.Transportation DisruptionsCentral Railway services faced significant disruptions due to waterlogging, despite high-capacity pumps in low-lying areas. Local trains stopped for hours, and many out-station trains were stranded. Harbour line services were suspended again on Monday night due to waterlogged tracks. Flight operations at Mumbai airport were severely impacted due to low visibility, leading to the cancellation of approximately 50 flights by 11 am. During the evening rush hour, BEST diverted bus services through alternate routes due to waterlogging in areas such as Parel, Gandhi Market, Sangam Nagar, and Malad subway.The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in various parts of Maharashtra, including Palghar, Thane, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Sangli, Sholapur, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed, Hingoli, Nanded, Latur, Osmanabad, Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, and Yavatmal, until July 12.
