Mumbai Deluge Claims Life: Woman Drowns in Open Drain Amid Heavy Rainfall

A 45-year-old woman drowned in an open drain in Andheri during heavy rains in Mumbai. Rescued by the fire brigade, she was declared dead at the hospital. A red alert is in effect due to severe waterlogging, prompting advisories for residents to stay indoors amid ongoing rainfall.

In a tragic incident during the torrential rains that hit Mumbai on Wednesday night, a 45-year-old woman, Vimal Gaikwad, drowned in an open drain in the MIDC area of Andheri. Although she was rescued by the fire brigade and rushed to Cooper Hospital, she was declared dead upon arrival.

The relentless rain has prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai police to issue advisories urging residents to stay indoors. A red alert has been issued for Mumbai and surrounding districts until 8:30 AM on Thursday, due to severe waterlogging and ongoing rainfall that has disrupted daily life.

In addition to the tragic drowning, commuters faced perilous conditions at Andheri and Chunabhatti railway stations, where many resorted to walking along the tracks to navigate the flooding. A landslide at the Mumbra bypass further complicated the situation, stranding motorists in traffic for over three hours.

Schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Pune have been closed for September 26 in light of the severe weather conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that the rainfall will persist until September 27, with many areas having recorded over 100 mm of rain between 5 PM and 10 PM on Wednesday. The eastern suburbs, including Mankhurd, Bhandup, and Powai, reported even higher averages of approximately 275 mm.

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Transportation has been significantly affected, with flights and buses facing diversions and delays. Though water levels at train stations are receding, central, western, and harbor train lines continue to experience delays.