Heavy Rains in Mumbai as the India Meteorological Department warns of potential flash floods and landslides in the coming days.
Mumbai and surrounding districts in Maharashtra are experiencing heavy rains in Mumbai today, Sunday, September 28, 2025, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing red alerts for extremely heavy rainfall in north Konkan regions including the city.
These downpours, triggered by a depression over the Bay of Bengal and a trough in the lower troposphere, are forecast to continue until September 30, affecting over a dozen districts and prompting emergency measures from state authorities. The alerts cover who is impacted: residents in urban and what areas; what is occurring: intense monsoon activity; when: through Tuesday; where primarily Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra; why, due to cyclonic circulations; and how through widespread thunderstorms and gusty winds up to 40 kmph.
Heavy Rains in Mumbai Lead to Widespread Disruptions
The IMD’s latest forecast indicates isolated extremely heavy rainfall over north Konkan and adjoining ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra on Sunday, September 28, 2025. This includes Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, and Palghar districts, where overnight showers have already recorded over 100 mm in some areas by 6:00 AM. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph are very likely at isolated places across Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada.
In Mumbai, low-lying areas such as Andheri, Bandra, and Dadar reported waterlogging by early morning, leading to traffic snarls on major arterial roads like the Western Express Highway. Local trains on the Central and Harbour lines faced delays of up to 20 minutes due to track inundation, affecting lakhs of daily commuters. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deployed over 200 water pumps to mitigate urban flooding risks.
Red Alerts in Maharashtra Today Target High-Risk Zones
Red alerts in Maharashtra focus on north Konkan districts, where extremely heavy rainfall, exceeding 204.5 mm in 24 hours poses threats of flash floods and landslides. Raigad and Thane are particularly vulnerable, with ghat sections of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway under monitoring for potential closures. The IMD classifies red alerts as indicating severe weather likely to cause major disruptions, urging residents to stay indoors.
An orange alert, signifying heavy rainfall between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm, covers broader parts of Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra, including Pune and Nashik. Yellow alerts extend to Marathwada districts such as Washim, Nagpur, Amravati, and Dhule, where heavy showers are expected but with lower intensity. The forecast predicts fairly widespread to widespread rainfall activity with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places over these regions until September 30, 2025.
The Maharashtra government has activated 24/7 control rooms in all affected districts and ordered the deployment of water-lifting pumps in urban low-lying areas. According to the Maharashtra government, repair teams equipped with chain saws and feeder protection units stand ready for electricity and road infrastructure maintenance, while water storage and discharge in medium dams across Konkan and upper valleys are under regular review. The State Emergency Operation Centre has disseminated advance warnings via SMS, social media, and local media, advising citizens to avoid flood-prone areas and unnecessary travel.
Government Response to Heavy Rains in Mumbai and Beyond
In response to the escalating monsoon fury, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s administration has emphasised preparedness. Instructions include avoiding dangerous zones, refraining from sheltering under trees during lightning, and seeking refuge in local shelter centres if needed. Residents are cautioned against crossing flooded bridges or believing unverified rumours that could incite panic.
The IMD attributes this spell of heavy rains in Mumbai to a depression over west Vidarbha, moving westwards across Marathwada and adjoining Madhya Maharashtra, weakening into a well-marked low-pressure area by Monday morning. Numerical weather prediction models suggest a gradual subsidence of activity post-September 30, though isolated showers may persist into early October.
Potential Impacts of Red Alerts in Maharashtra Today
Beyond immediate waterlogging, red alerts in Maharashtra today heighten risks of small and large landslides in ghat areas, uprooting of trees, and disruptions to rail and road networks. Mumbai’s flash flood risk is rated low to moderate, particularly in the city and suburban districts. Historical precedents, such as the 2021 deluge that paralysed the city, underscore the urgency: that event caused over 20 deaths and damages exceeding INR 5,000 crore.
Agricultural fields in coastal talukas face inundation threats, potentially impacting the ongoing kharif harvest. The state has prepositioned National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams in Mumbai, Thane, and Pune for rapid deployment.
Background
Maharashtra’s monsoon season, from June to September, typically delivers 80-90% of the state’s annual rainfall, averaging 1,184 mm. However, climate change has intensified events, with Mumbai recording its wettest July on record in 2020 at 1,616 mm. The IMD’s colour-coded system, red for extreme, orange for severe, yellow for be prepared has been in use since 2016 to standardise warnings.
What Lies Ahead
As heavy rains in Mumbai taper off by mid-week, authorities anticipate a return to normalcy, though vigilance remains key. The IMD urges monitoring updates via official channels, with forecasts available at mausam.imd.gov.in. With the primary keyword naturally woven into ongoing preparations, the focus shifts to recovery and long-term flood-resilient infrastructure in this monsoon-prone state.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, September 28th, 2025
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