Mumbai and large parts of Maharashtra reeled under relentless monsoon downpours on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, with record-breaking rainfall bringing the financial capital to a standstill. Two monorail trains carrying more than 700 passengers came to a sudden halt mid-track, prompting a massive rescue operation, while at least 21 lives were lost statewide in rain-related incidents over the last five days.
Monorail Scare: Hundreds Rescued
The heaviest drama unfolded on Mumbai’s elevated monorail network, where torrential rains disrupted services and left two trains stranded between stations. More than 500 passengers were evacuated from a train stuck between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park, while another 200 were rescued from a stalled train between Acharya Atre and Wadala.
Mumbai Fire Brigade Chief Ravindra Ambulgekar described the operation as “daring and meticulously coordinated.” Panic gripped passengers, with some even preparing to jump off the elevated tracks. “We immediately placed jumping sheets on the ground under the tracks and deployed officers into the coaches to calm people down. Our priority was to prevent panic from turning into tragedy,” Ambulgekar said. All passengers were eventually brought to safety.
City Under Water
Mumbai recorded nearly 350 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, with more than 200 mm falling in just six hours — conditions officials compared to a “cloudburst-like situation.” Several areas, including Vikhroli, Byculla, Juhu, and Santacruz, registered rainfall well above 200 mm. At the peak of the deluge, the swollen Mithi river crossed the danger mark, forcing the evacuation of 350 people to safer locations.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who toured affected areas, said 525 pumps were pressed into service across the city. “What happened in Mumbai on Tuesday was almost a cloudburst. The pumping stations were working non-stop to keep the city functional,” he said.
Transport Paralysis
The downpour severely disrupted Mumbai’s transport network. Local trains, the city’s lifeline, were suspended for nearly eight hours on the Central Railway mainline after water rose above the tracks in low-lying sections such as Sion and Kurla. Services between CSMT and Thane resumed only by evening, while operations on the harbour line remained suspended late into the night.
Road traffic too was crippled, with waterlogging reported across several arterial routes. Emergency crews were deployed to clear stranded vehicles and restore mobility.
Tragedy in Nanded, Vidarbha, and Beyond
While Mumbai bore the brunt of urban flooding, rural Maharashtra was equally battered. At least eight people died in Nanded district following flooding triggered by a cloudburst-like event. In Gadchiroli, a man was swept away in an overflowing stream as incessant rains forced the closure of 12 roads, including national and state highways.
The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Chandrapur district, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall, while Nagpur, Gondia, Gadchiroli, and Wardha were placed under an orange alert. In Pune, authorities warned that red alerts would remain in place for the Ghat areas for two more days.
Across Thane and Palghar districts, more than 1,100 people were shifted to temporary shelters as rivers swelled and houses were inundated. Wall collapses and road cave-ins further complicated relief efforts.
Mounting Toll and Misinformation
According to the state disaster management department, Maharashtra has recorded 21 deaths due to rain-related incidents since August 15, with Nanded accounting for the highest toll.
Amid the crisis, misinformation also spread rapidly. A fake message circulated on social media claimed schools and colleges in Mumbai would remain shut on Wednesday due to a red alert. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation dismissed the message as “fake” and clarified no such order had been issued.
Looking Ahead
With forecasts warning of continued heavy rains, the Maharashtra government has put disaster response teams on high alert. Five NDRF teams remain stationed in Mumbai, while civic authorities have been tasked with monitoring vulnerable areas.
For millions across the state, however, Tuesday’s deluge underscored the precarious balance between extreme weather events and urban preparedness. From stranded commuters to flooded villages, Maharashtra’s monsoon woes once again highlighted the urgent need for resilient infrastructure and timely relief efforts.
Also Read: Hamas ‘Agrees’ to 60-Day Ceasefire Proposal As Israel Weighs Response
