Two school students share an umbrella to protect themselves during rain in Mumbai on September 25. (PTI photo)
Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar has announced that all educational institutions in the city will remain closed on Thursday to prioritize the safety of students.
As heavy rains lashed Mumbai and its suburbs on Wednesday afternoon, Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar announced that all educational institutions in the city would remain closed on Thursday to prioritize the safety of students.
The announcement comes after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai and its neighboring states, predicting heavy rain till 8:30 AM on Thursday.
The city continues to experience heavy rainfall, which has caused waterlogging, traffic jams and other disruptions. In response, local authorities are taking additional measures to reduce the risk to residents, especially students and commuters.
Mumbai has a long history of monsoon challenges, including severe flooding and disruption of essential services during monsoons.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued an advisory urging residents to stay indoors and go outside if necessary.
Public transport, however, is not immune to the effects of the heavy rain, as widespread delays and disruptions are reported, especially on the railways.
Mumbai’s local rail network, often described as the lifeline of the city, has been badly affected by the heavy rains. Services on the central train line, which is one of Mumbai’s busiest, faced major delays due to water logging at key junctions like Sion, Kurla, and Dadar.
Commuters have reported delays of up to 30-45 minutes, and some services have been completely canceled during peak hours. In addition, several local trains were running at reduced speed, further disrupting the daily commute of thousands of passengers.
Heavy rain caused water to accumulate on the tracks, especially in low-lying areas, forcing the railways to take precautionary measures. Some trains have been diverted to other lines, while others have been temporarily suspended to prevent accidents. Railway officials are closely monitoring the situation, and additional personnel have been deployed to manage passenger traffic and clear water from the tracks.
Many daily commuters were stranded at stations, waiting for delayed or canceled trains. The situation has created long queues and congested platforms at major stations like Thane, Ghatkopar, and CST. Passengers have been advised to check real-time updates on train schedules and consider alternative modes of transport where possible.
Given the warning of red and continuous rains, the BMC has appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary travel. The civic body has stepped up its efforts to deal with flooding and has deployed emergency teams in flood-affected areas across the city. As local train services are facing disruptions, the BMC is working closely with the railway authorities to ensure the safety of all passengers.
With the red alert in place till Thursday morning, Mumbai residents are bracing for further disruptions. Residents are advised to stay up-to-date with the latest weather and transport advisories, and only travel if necessary.
