Vikhroli Records Unprecedented Rainfall: Mumbai Faces Torrential Downpour and Waterlogging

Mumbai: Less than 24 hours after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared an early arrival of the monsoon in Mumbai—two days ahead of the scheduled date of June 12—the city witnessed a dramatic weather shift. Monday morning greeted Mumbaikars with an overcast sky, a stark contrast to the heavy rain and thunderstorms that battered the city the previous night.

Sunday Night Storms and Rainfall

Even though much of Sunday was dry, the weather took a sharp turn in the evening. By 8 PM, parts of Mumbai started experiencing rainfall accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms, which intensified by 9 PM. The downpour grew heavier after 10 PM, continuing post-midnight until around 1 AM. The sudden and intense rainfall led to significant waterlogging in various areas, particularly in south and central Mumbai, compounded by a high tide of 3.74 meters. The Andheri subway and Parel TT bridge were temporarily closed for about two hours due to the inundation.

Vikhroli: The Epicenter of Rainfall

Tagore Nagar in Vikhroli emerged as the hardest-hit area, recording an astounding 158.2 mm of rain within just five hours, from 8 PM to 1 AM. This made it the highest rainfall recorded in the city during this period. On average, Mumbai experienced 99.11 mm of rainfall in the same timeframe. The eastern suburbs reported 61.29 mm, while the western suburbs saw 73.78 mm of rain.

IMD Alerts and Measurements

The IMD has issued a ‘yellow alert’ for Mumbai, warning of thunderstorms with lightning, heavy rain, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 50-60 km/h at isolated places. The alert follows the IMD’s report of 69 mm of rain recorded at the Santacruz weather station and 53 mm at Colaba over the last 24 hours, ending at 8:30 AM on Monday.

Detailed Rainfall Data

In a span of three hours, from 10 PM to 1 AM, seven rain gauges placed across Mumbai by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Mumbai Mesonet observation network recorded rainfall exceeding 100 mm—ranging from heavy (64.5 mm-115.5 mm) to very heavy (115.6 – 204.4 mm). The data includes:

• Britannia Storm Water Pumping Station in Reay Road: 132.56 mm
• Dadar Fire Station: 104.13 mm
• Dahisar Fire Station: 116.06 mm
• F South Ward Office in Parel: 119.62 mm
• G South Ward Office in Prabhadevi: 113.27 mm
• SWD Workshop Dadar: 122.18 mm
• Worli Fire Station: 109.96 mm

Public Outcry and Waterlogging Issues

Residents across the city voiced their frustration over the rapid waterlogging that ensued after just a few hours of rain. Notorious spots such as Hindmata, Dadar, Byculla, Sewri station, Worli, Vikhroli, Tagore Nagar, Lalbaugh, Wadala, Sakinaka, Mulund, Bhandup, Vidyavihar, Dahisar Check Naka, Veera Desai, Bandra West, Vile Parle, and Malad experienced significant flooding. The swift accumulation of water in these areas highlighted the ongoing infrastructural challenges Mumbai faces during the monsoon season.

Conclusion

The early arrival of the monsoon and the intense rainfall that followed serve as a stark reminder of Mumbai’s vulnerability to heavy rains and the accompanying waterlogging. As residents brace for the monsoon season, the city’s infrastructure and response mechanisms will be tested to their limits. The IMD’s warnings and the observed rainfall patterns underscore the need for preparedness and resilience in the face of nature’s unpredictability.