A sudden and severe weather system packing intense lightning, torrential rainfall, and destructive gusty winds struck Mumbai and its surrounding metropolitan regions on Tuesday night catching commuters by surprise and causing widespread disruption across the financial capital.
The localized storm cell developed rapidly over the Arabian Sea before sweeping inland. Within a short span, several low-lying areas experienced significant waterlogging, which slowed vehicular traffic to a crawl on major arteries, including the Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway.
Localized areas recorded heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning strikes and wind speeds reaching up to 50–60 km/h, leading to reports of tree falls and minor structural damage.
Suburban train services on the Central and Western lines experienced minor delays due to water on the tracks and cautionary speed restrictions. Flight operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport reported brief delays in departures and arrivals due to low visibility.
Preventive power cuts were implemented in select pockets to mitigate electrical hazards from waterlogging and fallen branches.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deployed emergency response teams, including disaster management personnel and high-capacity dewatering pump operators, to clear choked drains and manage flooding hotspots.
News Edit KV Raman
