Mumbai deluge: 9 flights abort landing, schools shut as heavy rains flood city
Heavy overnight rain brought Mumbai to a standstill on Monday, August 18, flooding key roads and low-lying areas, disrupting air travel and forcing the closure of schools and colleges across the city. Authorities warned of more showers alongside high tide, and urged residents to avoid non-essential travel.
At Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), multiple airlines issued passenger advisories on X, asking travelers to check flight status and leave early due to severe waterlogging and heavy traffic on approach roads. More than 430 flights were delayed and dozens cancelled as operations were intermittently impacted by weather and visibility conditions, according to flight-tracking data cited in local reports. Indian media also reported that nine flights were forced into go-arounds and one was diverted due to poor visibility during intense spells of rainfall.
City officials said some areas recorded over 300mm of rainfall in just six hours leading up to 7am, flooding arterial routes and affecting both Eastern and Western Express Highways. Suburban rail services—Mumbai’s lifeline—faced widespread delays, with cancellations and route disruptions reported where tracks were inundated; some trains were halted on waterlogged lines, and commuters were seen walking along tracks to reach safer points. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Mumbai and surrounding districts, with a high tide of around 4.4m forecast during the day.
Local authorities ordered the shutdown of government, private, and municipal schools and colleges on Monday in view of the conditions, and urged residents to stay indoors where possible. Visuals from across the city showed knee- to waist-deep water in parts of Worli, Kurla, King’s Circle, Dadar, and near several rail stations, with traffic moving bumper-to-bumper through major corridors.
Airlines and airport authorities reiterated advisories throughout the day, asking passengers to confirm schedules before traveling and to factor in longer commute times because of flooded underpasses and slow-moving traffic near the airport.
Sources: Local and international media coverage of Mumbai floods and transport disruptions, including school closures, flight delays/cancellations, and IMD alerts.
