Heavy Monsoon Rain Disrupts Air Travel, Triggers Flood Alerts Across India
Heavy monsoon rains caused significant disruptions across India on Sunday, grounding flights, flooding roads, and prompting flood alerts in several states. One person died in Mumbai due to rain-related incidents, officials confirmed.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal had intensified into a depression. It is expected to cross the north Odisha coast within 24 hours, bringing widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across eastern India.
Mumbai, the financial capital, experienced the most severe impact. Overnight rain and strong winds forced the suspension of runway operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for one hour. Four IndiGo flights were cancelled, and 13 incoming flights were diverted. Flight tracking data showed about 90 per cent of departing flights were delayed by an average of over an hour, while nearly half of arriving flights faced similar delays.
The IMD retained a red alert for Mumbai after several areas recorded more than 200 mm of rain in 24 hours, with some locations receiving nearly 300 mm. Authorities warned of potential flooding and landslides.
Kerala remains on high alert for floods and landslides, while Odisha and Himachal Pradesh are also bracing for heavy rainfall. Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to move to safer locations. Emergency services are on standby.
