Mumbai, August 2025 – Maharashtra’s monsoon has turned ferocious once more as extreme downpours battered Mumbai and surrounding regions. The Mithi River, a seasonal waterway coursing through the
Mumbai, August 2025 – Maharashtra’s monsoon has turned ferocious once more as extreme downpours battered Mumbai and surrounding regions. The Mithi River, a seasonal waterway coursing through the city, surged perilously close to—and at times above—the danger mark, triggering large-scale evacuations, severe commuting disruptions, and heightening fears of further flooding.
From August 15 to August 20, Mumbai recorded 875 mm of rainfall, with Santacruz alone seeing 209 mm and Colaba 107.4 mm in a single day. These figures pushed total August rainfall beyond 1,000.8 mm, far above the typical 560.8 mm monthly average. Experts attribute the surge to the complex interplay of monsoon systems, climate change, and intensified moisture flow into Western India.
On Tuesday, the Mithi River rose to 3.9 meters, brushing alarmingly close to its 4.2-meter danger threshold, prompting preemptive evacuations in vulnerable zones like Kurla’s Kranti Nagar and other low-lying settlements. Roughly 300 to 350 residents were relocated to safer areas by the NDRF, as authorities scrambled to avert tragedy.
The swollen Mithi wreaked havoc on Mumbai’s lifeline—its suburban rail network. At Sion station, all six tracks (four Central Railway main lines and two Harbour lines) were submerged, halting services for nearly eight hours. While powerful pumps were deployed—including railway and BMC dewatering systems—operations were obstructed due to local opposition from slum dwellers near Moon Furniture locality and Kurla, who feared flooding of their homes. Only after police intervention were pumps resumed and trains restored by evening.
The rains’ wrath wasn’t confined to Mumbai. Since August 15, Maharashtra has registered at least 30 fatalities, with nine recorded in the past 24 hours across Nanded, Sindhudurg, Gondia, Yavatmal, and Mumbai. Some 20.1 lakh acres of farmland suffered damage, especially in Nanded, which accounted for 7.13 lakh acres. Rivers like Krishna and Panchaganga swelled dangerously in Sangli and Kolhapur, prompting rescue operations and prohibitory orders, while the Army and SDRF conducted evacuations and relief outreaches.
By August 21, the India Meteorological Department reduced the severity of warnings: Mumbai moved to a yellow alert, and officials announced that schools, offices, and public transport were beginning to resume operations. Simultaneously, rainfall intensity across Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra was forecasted to decline; Pune and other areas were expected to see only light showers or none at all by Friday, with landslide risks persisting in ghats due to saturated soil.
Underlying the intensity of this monsoon is the escalating influence of climate change. Researchers highlight how warming trends—notably over regions like the Middle East—have altered wind patterns, drawing excessive moisture from the Arabian Sea toward the Western Ghats and supercharging rainfall events. One expert described climate change as “a steroid” amplifying monsoon behavior, pushing cities like Mumbai into extreme weather territory.
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The river swelled due to sustained extreme rainfall—particularly between August 15 and 20—coupled with heavy water inflows from Vihar and Powai Lakes. Elevated rainfall levels strained the river system, pushing it close to the danger threshold of 4.2 meters.
Authorities evacuated between 300 and 350 residents from high-risk slum areas near Kurla’s Kranti Nagar, responding swiftly to the river’s near-danger levels.
Suburban rail lines at Sion were submerged due to flooding from the swollen Mithi River. Although pumps were installed, residents in adjacent slums stalled operations by opposing water discharge into their areas. Only after police intervention could dewatering restart and services resume by evening.
As of August 21, the IMD downgraded the alert to yellow. Rainfall is expected to taper off over Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra, with most regions experiencing light or no showers by Friday. However, landslide risks remain in ghats due to saturated soil conditions.
Experts warn that climate change is intensifying monsoon patterns by altering atmospheric circulation and moisture transport. Warming, especially over regions like the Middle East, alters wind and moisture flow, leading to heavier, more concentrated rainfall episodes in cities like Mumbai.
