All schools and colleges in Mumbai and its surrounding suburbs, including Navi Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Mira Bhayander, have been ordered to remain closed today, August 19, 2025, due to an "extremely heavy rainfall" red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The decision, announced by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other civic bodies, comes as the city grapples with the effects of three days of continuous, torrential downpours.
The city has been hit by a fierce spell of monsoon rains, with some areas receiving as much as 100 mm of rain in a span of just a few hours on Monday. This has led to widespread waterlogging in low-lying areas like Hindmata, Dadar, and Andheri, causing significant traffic snarls and disrupting daily life. The Andheri subway, a critical transport link, was shut down for over six hours on Monday due to flooding.
The BMC's decision to declare a holiday for all educational institutions was made as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students and staff. A red alert is the highest level of warning issued by the IMD, indicating a likelihood of more than 204.5 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid nonessential travel and stay indoors.
In response to the crisis, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a comprehensive review meeting with the State Disaster Management Cell. The Chief Minister has authorized district collectors and municipal bodies to make on-the-spot decisions regarding holidays and relief measures. Police have been instructed to monitor landslide-prone areas and ensure that relief centers are well-equipped. Meanwhile, Mumbai University has postponed 32 exams that were scheduled for today, rescheduling them to August 23.
The heavy rains have had a major impact on Mumbai's transport networks. While local train services, the city's lifeline, are currently operational with some delays, traffic has been severely affected on major routes. BEST has been instructed to run additional bus services to assist stranded railway passengers. Airlines have also issued advisories, asking travelers to plan their journeys to the airport with extra time due to traffic congestion.
The rainfall, which began on Saturday, is a result of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. The IMD predicts that the intense rainfall will continue for the next couple of days before gradually subsiding. The civic body has appealed to residents to use the disaster helpline 1916 for any assistance. The continuous downpour has sadly resulted in a few casualties. At least two deaths have been reported in Mumbai due to rain-related incidents: a 75-year-old watchman died in a wall collapse, and a man was electrocuted. Rescue operations are also underway in various parts of the state where people have been trapped by rising floodwaters.
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