Mumbai: The bustling city of Mumbai was brought to a standstill as it grappled with severe urban flooding caused by torrential rains, resulting in the deaths of at least four people and the closure of educational institutions on Thursday. The heavy rainfall paralyzed transportation systems and prompted the issuance of a citywide red alert, urging millions of residents to stay indoors.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the city endured approximately 275 mm (11 inches) of rainfall on Wednesday evening alone, severely affecting the daily commutes of millions by crippling road traffic and causing significant delays to train services. In response to the chaos and the ongoing threat, local authorities decided to close schools and colleges, and advised fishermen to avoid the seas until the weather improved on Friday.

The impact of the rain was visible across the city, with drone footage on social media showing major highways jammed with vehicles, some containing drivers unable to move, while others were left abandoned by their owners. The prolonged gridlock forced hundreds of thousands of commuters to spend many hours trapped on roads.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), a state-run agency, noted that India’s monsoon rains have started to retreat from the northwest later than usual this year, nearly a week beyond the expected timeline. Typically, the monsoon season begins in June and starts winding down by September 17. However, this year’s extended rains have been a mixed blessing, replenishing reservoirs but also damaging crops in several states.

Furthermore, the IMD forecasted that heavy rain would also affect parts of Telangana in the southern region of the country on Thursday.