Mumbai Airport flooding: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj facing major delays

Relentless rain in Mumbai has brought chaos to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), according to reports.

Airlines have confirmed major delays for passengers, but the airport has not yet confirmed the reports of it being shut down, which are being circulated on social media.

Sandeep Chavan Jinturkar posted a video of the flooding on X, showing water coming halfway up a plane's tyres and aboge the lights on several coaches. He said: "Mumbai Airport closed."

Several parts of Mumbai received more than 200mm rainfall in the last 24 hours, with the eastern suburbs reporting the highest downpour at 255.5mm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The rain has been caused by a cloudburst, when a cloud bursts and a large amount of rain falls in a short period, usually over 100mm in an hour over 12 square miles. They are sudden and violent, often leading to widespread destruction and deaths.