Mumbai was battered by torrential rain on Monday as the southwest monsoon made its earliest landfall in 75 years, unleashing chaos across the city and parts of Maharashtra. The downpour resulted in severe flooding, transport disruptions, and at least six confirmed deaths.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, warning of continued heavy rainfall through Tuesday morning. Over 250 mm of rain was recorded in South Mumbai within 13 hours, with Nariman Point logging the highest rainfall at 252 mm.
Four people were killed by lightning strikes, one person drowned, and another died in a ceiling collapse. Additionally, three rain-related deaths were reported in Pune. The persistent rains flooded streets, submerged metro stations, and disrupted rail and road networks.
Mumbai Metro Line 3 was partially suspended after water inundated the under-construction Acharya Atre Chowk station. On the suburban rail network, services on the Harbour Line were halted due to water rising eight inches above track level between Masjid and Sandhurst Road stations.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is closely monitoring the situation and has placed disaster response teams on high alert. However, the early monsoon has drawn criticism from the opposition. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and Congress leaders slammed the BJP-led Mahayuti government for poor preparedness despite significant pre-monsoon spending.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde defended the administration, blaming the unexpected early arrival of the monsoon. “We expected pre-monsoon work to finish by June 10. The early rains disrupted timelines and caused chaos,” he said, adding that drain-cleaning operations were still underway.
The city continues to brace for more rain, with the IMD forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in isolated areas.
