Heavy rainfall in Mumbai has submerged roads, disrupted transportation, and affected millions of residents. Flights and trains faced cancellations, leaving commuters stranded. Videos show locals swimming through waterlogged streets while garbage overflowed from clogged sewers, creating hazardous conditions across the city.
Rescue Operations Underway
Authorities rescued nearly 600 people trapped on an overcrowded monorail system that stopped mid-journey on Tuesday. Civic officials treated at least 23 passengers for suffocation. Emergency teams worked through the night to evacuate stranded residents safely.
Most schools and colleges remain closed. Officials relocated around 350 people from low-lying areas to temporary shelters. India’s weather department issued a red alert for Mumbai and neighboring districts, warning of very heavy rains on Wednesday. Meteorologists expect conditions to improve later in the week.
Record Monsoon Rains Hit the City
Maharashtra experiences monsoon rains annually at this time, but this year the downpours have been exceptionally severe. Mumbai recorded 800mm of rainfall in just four days, well above the city’s August average, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Authorities reported at least 21 deaths across the state due to rain-related accidents in the past four days. Roads remain flooded, and city life has slowed to a crawl.
Train and Flight Services Disrupted
Mumbai’s local trains, the lifeline for millions of commuters, faced severe delays. Thousands waited on crowded platforms as services halted for hours. Passengers reported that trains scheduled for the previous night only departed the next morning, while others faced extended delays.
Flight operations also suffered. Around 50 flights at the city’s international airport were canceled over recent days. Budget carrier IndiGo warned passengers about potential air traffic congestion caused by heavy rainfall.
Monorail Chaos Exposes Overcrowding
Chaos erupted on Tuesday after a monorail, exceeding its capacity, halted on elevated tracks. Passengers reported that air-conditioning shut down and they struggled to open doors to signal for help. Fire and police teams used cranes to bring stranded commuters safely to the ground.
Preliminary investigations suggested the incident occurred due to severe overcrowding in the train, exposing weaknesses in the city’s transportation infrastructure.
Criticism of Government Preparedness
Opposition lawmakers criticized authorities for failing to manage the crisis. Aaditya Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) party called the situation an “absolute collapse of governance.” He claimed officials ignored red alerts and failed to plan, citing flooding at the airport and new waterlogged areas near recent construction.
Citizens also took to social media to condemn Mumbai’s failing infrastructure and lack of preparedness. Despite recent infrastructure upgrades, including coastal roads, sea bridges, and a metro system, experts warn that drainage systems and climate-resilient infrastructure lag behind the city’s growing population.
Mumbai Faces Structural Challenges
Mumbai houses over 12 million residents and welcomes migrants annually seeking better opportunities. Rapid population growth strains existing infrastructure. While the city invested in roads and public transport, officials have not sufficiently upgraded drainage systems to handle extreme rainfall.
Experts emphasize that climate-resilient planning remains crucial. Without stronger infrastructure, residents will face recurring disruptions each monsoon season.
