Heavy rainfall in Mumbai led to a harrowing situation on Monday, August 18, 2025, when a school bus carrying six children and two staff members became stranded on a flooded road in the Matunga area. The incident, which saw the bus stuck for over half an hour, prompted a swift response from the Mumbai Police, who rushed to the scene and successfully rescued all the occupants.
The rescue occurred amidst widespread waterlogging and reduced visibility across the city, caused by the relentless downpour. The Mumbai Police have urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel, exercise caution while commuting, and only venture out when necessary. The police also assured the public that officials and staff are on high alert and ready to provide assistance, with emergency contact numbers 100, 112, and 103 available for those in need.
According to reports, the private school bus got stuck in an inundated spot in Matunga. After being alerted, the Matunga police quickly arrived and rescued the children and staff. The children were then taken to the Matunga Police Station for safety. Visuals circulating online showed the extent of the waterlogging, with commuters and vehicles struggling through the flooded streets.
In light of the heavy rains and a 'red' alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in the city operating in the second shift. Schools that conducted morning shifts were allowed to close early due to the incessant rains. The IMD has issued a red alert for Mumbai and several coastal districts of Maharashtra, including Raigad, Ratnagiri, Satara, Kolhapur, and Pune. An orange alert has also been issued for the city.
The incident involving the school bus is just one example of the disruptions caused by the heavy rains. Waterlogging has been reported in several low-lying areas such as Sion, Bandra, Dadar, and Andheri. Traffic has also been significantly affected, with long delays reported on the Eastern Freeway and Western Express Highway. Train services on the Harbour Line were also running with delays due to waterlogging at Mankhurd, Govandi, Kurla, and Tilak Nagar stations.
The Greater Mumbai Police Chief has advised Mumbaikars to stay indoors and cautioned against unnecessary travel. "As heavy rainfall continues under the Orange Alert, incidents of waterlogging and reduced visibility are being reported from multiple areas," the police chief stated, urging people to plan their commute carefully and step out only if necessary. The BMC has upgraded the weather warning from orange to red alert and is closely monitoring the situation.
