Image Credit: Unsplash/Dibakar Roy

IIT Bombay’s Hyperlocal Flood Forecasting Supports Mumbai During Heavy Rains

During the recent heavy rainfall in Mumbai, IIT Bombay’s Centre for Climate Studies, in collaboration with the HDFC-ERGO IIT Bombay Innovation Lab, provided hyperlocal forecasts to aid the city’s flood management efforts. The initiative, developed with support from BMC and the Regional Met Centre Mumbai, offered near-real-time updates on rainfall, waterlogging, and transport disruptions through mumbaiflood.in and the Mumbai Flood app.

The forecasts, led by Prof. Subimal Ghosh (Head, Centre for Climate Studies, IIT Bombay), were crucial for municipal teams, helping the stormwater drain department plan operations more effectively and manage traffic and safety during peak rainfall. The algorithm for daily forecasts was developed by PhD student Ms. Puja Tripathy, while the system was integrated with IMD’s Mumbai office for wider dissemination.

This initiative got extensive media coverage, and you can read more about there here: The Times of India / Mid-Day / Hindustan Times

This collaboration highlighted IIT Bombay’s commitment to applying research and innovation to solve real-world challenges, reinforcing its role as a hub for technology-driven societal impact.