Mumbai : Mumbai reeled under the impact of heavy monsoon showers on Monday as relentless rainfall disrupted transportation, flooded infrastructure, and brought the city to a near standstill. The newly inaugurated Worli underground metro station was inundated, while local trains and flights were also heavily impacted. Pune, meanwhile, witnessed a cloudburst that caused flash floods in several low-lying areas.
Metro Station Flooded Days After Inauguration
The Worli underground metro station, inaugurated by Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on May 1, was submerged after incessant rains lashed Mumbai early morning. Visuals from the site showed ankle-deep water pooling inside the premises, raising concerns over drainage preparedness.
High-Speed Winds, Flight Disruptions, and Traffic Chaos
Alongside torrential rain, Mumbai also experienced wind speeds of 70–80 kmph, uprooting trees in several neighbourhoods. Visibility dropped significantly due to thick cloud cover, causing at least eight flights to be delayed or diverted. Motorists were seen driving with headlights on even during daytime as waterlogged streets led to 7–8 km long traffic snarls.
On the Harbour and Central railway lines, suburban train services were delayed, stranding thousands of daily commuters. Waterlogging was reported in areas like Santacruz, Andheri, Pali Hill, and Chembur, with rainfall figures crossing 25 mm in several pockets.
Pune Floods After Cloudburst in Patas Region
In Pune district, a sudden cloudburst near Patas on the Pune-Solapur highway triggered flash floods in Baramati and Indapur. Roads turned into rivers, 200 homes were inundated, and parked vehicles were swept away by the gushing water. Two NDRF teams have been deployed to lead rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas.
Kerala Reels Under Monsoon Fury
Further south, Kerala continued to witness widespread damage due to heavy rains. A man in Kozhikode was killed after a tree fell on his scooter, while two children in Kodanchery were electrocuted. The government has ordered the closure of schools and colleges in nine districts, and deployed a 28-member NDRF team to Wayanad, where several families had to be relocated.
In northern Palakkad, 40 houses were damaged, and four were completely destroyed due to landslides and flooding.
IMD Forecast: More Rain and Cyclonic Activity Ahead
The INDIA Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert stating that Mumbai and its suburbs can expect moderate to heavy rain throughout the day. The forecast also includes high-speed winds in the 30–40 kmph range.
In Madhya Pradesh, two cyclonic circulations and a trough are driving an abrupt shift in weather conditions. The IMD predicts thunderstorms and rainfall over the next four days in central India.
Monsoon Ahead of Schedule in Nine States
As of May 27, the monsoon has reached nine Indian states, including Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. Remarkably, the monsoon hit Maharashtra 10 days ahead of schedule, the earliest since 1990 when it had arrived on May 20.
India Launches Bharat Forecast System (BFS)
In a major technological leap for weather prediction, India launched the Bharat Forecast System (BFS) today. Developed by IITM Pune, this state-of-the-art system offers weather forecasts at a 6 km resolution, the most advanced in the world.
The BFS leverages the new supercomputer ‘Arka’, which can run high-resolution models in under 4 hours — a significant improvement over the older ‘Pratyush’ system, which took 10 hours. BFS will support disaster response, agriculture, and water resource management by providing highly localized, real-time forecasts using data from 40 Doppler radars, soon to be expanded to 100.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.