Schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar are closed today due to heavy rain alert issued by the India Meteorological Department. The decision has been taken to ensure the safety of students, as the weather department has forecasted heavy rainfall and strong winds. While government and private offices are functioning normally, citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel. Online classes may be conducted if required. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared a holiday for all government, private and civic-run schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar. The district authorities and school heads have been empowered to assess local weather conditions and take decisions regarding holidays if necessary. This arrangement allows the administration to respond quickly if rainfall intensifies in specific areas. Mumbai and neighboring regions have been experiencing persistent heavy rainfall over the past few days, leading to waterlogging, traffic disruptions and incidents of tree falls in different parts of the city.