A 45-year-old woman drowned in an open drain in Andheri East in Mumbai that overflowed due to heavy rains on Wednesday evening.

The woman, Vimal Gaikwad, 45, was dragged for about 100 metres in MIDC area in Andheri East. Her body was recovered after a search operation lasting about an hour, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials said.

She was taken to Cooper Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Mumbai was hit by heavy rains on Wednesday, inundating low-lying areas, bringing local trains to a standstill and diverting at least 14 incoming flights.

Several areas in Mumbai recorded heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening. The worst-affected regions include Veena Nagar in Mulund with 104 mm, Bhandup with 120 mm, Powai with 145 mm, Chembur with 162 mm and Govandi with 167 mm.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning for Mumbaiand predicts heavy rain for Thursday.

The BMC announced that all schools and colleges in the city would remain closed on Thursday. The civic administration also asked citizens to not step out of their homes unless absolutely necessary.