MUMBAI: A 45-year-old woman tragically drowned in an open drain in Andheri's MIDC area following heavy rains in Mumbai on Wednesday. The incident highlights the city's struggle with severe waterlogging and disrupted public services during the monsoon.

According to BMC officials, Vimal Gaikwad, the victim, was rescued by the Mumbai fire brigade and rushed to Cooper Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. The heavy rains led to severe waterlogging in several parts of the city, including Kurla East, Nehru Nagar, and Chembur, causing traffic jams on major routes like the Kurla bridge.

Commuters faced additional challenges when a landslide occurred at the Mumbra bypass around 11:30 pm, further disrupting traffic for over three hours. Fire officer Swapnil Sarnobat said that the traffic department managed to control the flow of vehicles from one side, and after the debris was cleared, movement towards Thane resumed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Amid these weather challenges, the Mumbai Police issued a public advisory urging residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. They announced a holiday for all schools and colleges in Mumbai and its suburbs for September 26, 2024, due to a Red Alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD has warned of continued heavy rainfall, issuing red alerts for Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and other districts, while also placing Pune under an orange alert. Pune District Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in Pune city and Pimpri Chinchwad in response to the weather warnings.

IMD's weather forecast also predicted heavy rainfall in various regions, including Konkan, Goa, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, and several other states, emphasizing the need for caution as monsoon conditions persist.

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