Fish in Mumbai’s Flooded Tracks: Rain Turns Railway Stations into Aquatic Scenes
Mumbai, 11th July 2024: Mumbai experienced a torrential downpour on Monday, soaking the city with up to 300 millimetres of rain in just a few hours, marking its most significant single-day rainfall since 2019. The deluge transformed streets into waterways and railway tracks into impromptu rivers, severely disrupting daily life across Mumbai and neighbouring districts. As the rain poured relentlessly, schools and colleges closed, and commuters navigated through waterlogged roads and inundated train stations.
Amid the chaos, social media platforms buzzed with videos and photos documenting the havoc. One video that garnered attention showed fish swimming in the flooded railway tracks, sparking a wave of humour and memes likening the stations to an unexpected aquatic habitat.
“Looks like a collaboration between the railway ministry and the fisheries department for a multi-purpose project,” quipped one user, joking about the fish’s unexpected appearance.
Another person commented, “Seeing marine fish live on railway tracks for the first time in my life. Climate change and global warming can wreak havoc in the future,” while a third observed, “India’s ecosystem is truly mesmerizing.”
“These are catfish, often seen during the monsoon emerging from canals and water bodies,” explained another social media user, shedding light on the presence of these aquatic creatures navigating Mumbai’s railway network. The heavy rains have severely impacted Mumbai’s infrastructure, particularly its crucial railway network, now grappling with extensive waterlogging in various areas.
Looking ahead, the weather forecast remains grim for Mumbai, Thane, and other districts in Maharashtra, with the Indian Meteorological Department predicting continued moderate to heavy rainfall until at least Saturday. The city has been placed under a ‘yellow’ alert, cautioning residents about the ongoing downpours expected until July 13.
