Fact Check: Viral Video Claiming to Show Flooded Mumbai Airport Is Originally From Chennai in 2023
Mumbai has been experiencing a significant amount of rainfall in the last few days (leading up to August 21st, 2025)
Chennai airport flood video 2023
Mumbai has been experiencing a significant amount of rainfall in the last few days (leading up to August 21st, 2025), causing widespread waterlogging, disruptions, and concerns about urban infrastructure and flood management. The city has witnessed some of the heaviest rainfall in recent years, with the Santacruz station recording 223 mm and Colaba station 110 mm of rain between Monday and Tuesday morning alone. Some areas, like Chincholi in Malad, received over 360 mm of rainfall in 24 hours. The heavy downpour has resulted in widespread flooding, affecting roads, disrupting local train services and even causing flight diversions. Mumbai airport faced major disruptions due to heavy rain and strong winds. Many flights were diverted or had to delay landing.
Meanwhile, a video showing water laden airport with flights standing in water is in circulation on social medi with the claim that it shows the chaotic situation in the Mumbai airport. The caption in the shared videos is “मुंबई एयरपोर्ट पर हाल बेहाल I भारी बारिश से एयरपोर्ट और आसपास जलभराव, कई उड़ानें डायवर्ट व डिले। एयरलाइन्स ने यात्रियों को समय से पहले निकलने और फ्लाइट स्टेटस चेक करने की दी सलाह।“ When translated it claims “Chaos in Mumbai airport. Due to heavy rainfall, waterlogging at the airport and surrounding areas, several flights diverted and delayed. Airlines have advised passengers to leave early and check flight status. “
Here is the archive link of the claim.
Fact Check:
The claim is Misleading. The video is an old one and shows runway of Chennai airport submerged in Flood water in 2023.
When we extracted keyframes from the video and searched using reverse image, we found that a few X users shared the same video in December 2023 stating that it shows situation in Chennai airport in 2023. An X user shared with caption “Runway at Chennai airport flooded amid heavy rainfall across the city. Schools, offices shut, flights cancelled in Tamil Nadu as cyclonic storm intensifies #CycloneMichaung #ChennaiFloods #ChennaiRain #ChennaiRains #India #Cyclone #Michaungcyclone”
Another user also shared the video on December 3, 2023, with the caption “The current situation at #Chennai Airport, #India . All flights have been canceled until 23:00 local time.”
Times of India shared the same video on its youtube channel with the title “Viral: Chennai airport flooded | Cyclone Michaung | Chennai Severe Cyclonic Storm”. The descrition states that the flight operations in Chennai airport as the entire runway and airplane parking zone are filled with with water after heavy rains under the influence of Cyclone Michaung.
Hence, the viral video is not related to the recent Mumbai floods, it shows floods in Chennal after it was hit by heavy rains under the influence of Cyclone Michaung. The claim is Misleading.