Mumbai Rain highlights: Angry Powai residents sit in waterlogged streets to protest BMC apathy

Residents of Milind Nagar in Mumbai's Powai expressed anger against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the season's first spell of heavy rainfall led to severe waterlogging in the area.

In a unique protest, locals sat in the accumulated rainwater and raised slogans against the civic administration, attempting to draw attention to their grievances. Several low-lying areas have reported waterlogging following heavy rains, with flooded roads and residential pockets causing major inconvenience to residents and commuters alike.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the BJP over widespread waterlogging across Mumbai following heavy rainfall, saying the city was flooded in the very first spell of the monsoon.

Addressing reporters, Thackeray alleged that the BJP-led administration had neglected Mumbai's civic issues. "You must have seen that Mumbai was flooded today in the first rain. The BJP has done only one thing: the entire focus of the BJP Mayor was on Dhaka, Bangladesh, but he forgot Mumbai," he said, taking a swipe at the ruling party over the city's preparedness for the monsoon season.

Residents of Milind Nagar in Powai were left distressed after the season's first spell of heavy rain caused severe waterlogging in the area, prompting anger against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

In an unusual form of protest, residents attempted to draw the administration's attention by sitting in the accumulated water and raising slogans against the BMC.

Heavy rain led to waterlogging in several low-lying areas. With roads and parts of residential neighbourhoods submerged, residents and commuters faced significant inconvenience and difficulties in moving around.

Mumbai was battered by an intense overnight downpour, with the city recording more than 200 mm of rainfall on average in just eight hours. The heavy spell also marked the official arrival of the Southwest Monsoon, which reached the city 13 days later than usual.

The owner of a car damaged after a tree fell on it in Mumbai demanded compensation from the authorities, saying the vehicle was parked when the incident occurred. He added that the driver was rescued by bystanders and urged the government to provide financial assistance for the damage caused.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde said the city administration was fully prepared for the monsoon and asserted that civic infrastructure was functioning as intended. Speaking from Gandhi Market, she said pumps were operational, roads were clean and officials were on the ground monitoring the situation.

A baby python was discovered inside a railway engine at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus late on Tuesday night, causing concern among railway staff. Upon learning about the incident, railway employees immediately contacted snake rescue experts.

Following the alert, Maharashtra State Honorary Animal Welfare Officer Abhishek Ashok Thaware rushed to the spot. Taking necessary precautions, he safely rescued the baby python at around 1:40 am. The timely rescue operation ensured that railway services continued without any disruption.

The rescued python was later released safely into its natural habitat.

Mumbaikars woke up to a familiar monsoon scene on Wednesday, with flooded streets, uprooted trees and traffic snarls after more than 300 mm of rain lashed several parts of the city over the past 24 hours. South Mumbai recorded its wettest June day in more than a decade, receiving 248 mm of rainfall.

The widespread disruption left many residents wondering how the rest of the monsoon season would unfold if such destruction was visible within the first 24 hours of the monsoon's official onset. Below are some images capturing the impact of the heavy rain across the city.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde reviewed the situation on the city's roads following the onset of the monsoon. The mayor said that the BMC had completed its work and that residents would not face any inconvenience. She added that drain-cleaning work was nearly complete and took a swipe at the opposition, saying that those criticising the administration were "sitting at home today."

(Source: Dipesh Tripathi)

Aaj Tak's Dipesh Tripathi spoke to senior citizens living in the Gandhi Market Committee building in Mumbai's Sion. During the interaction, residents described the difficulties they face every year during the monsoon. They said that waterlogging occurs even after the first spell of rain and expressed concern about the challenges they may face during the rest of the monsoon season.

Relentless rain disrupted services on Mumbai's Trans Harbour Line, stranding commuters travelling between Thane and Navi Mumbai.

Rail operations were affected after the ground supporting the tracks weakened between Turbhe and Koparkhairane stations, prompting safety concerns and forcing restrictions on train movement.

Central Railway said 24 trains on Mumbai's Trans Harbour Line have been cancelled following a track damage incident. While services have resumed after repairs between Turbhe and Vashi, train speeds remain restricted as a precaution in the affected section.

Heavy rainfall continued overnight in Vasai-Virar, leading to severe waterlogging in several low-lying areas, disrupting daily life across the region. Localities including Central Park, Tulinj, the station area, Gala Nagar and Achole Road in Nalasopara, along with parts of Virar and Vasai, were inundated as rain persisted through the morning.

Commuters heading towards Mumbai and schoolchildren were among those most affected, with flooded streets making movement difficult and vehicles stalling at multiple points.

Heavy rainfall also disrupted Central Railway’s Trans-Harbour line services between Thane and Vashi/Panvel in neighbouring Navi Mumbai after a track cave-in occurred due to excessive water flow between Turbhe and Koparkhairane stations, officials said.

According to a Central Railway spokesperson, the up line on the Thane–Vashi section was declared unsafe at 5.06 am, followed by the down line being declared unsafe at 5.50 am, affecting train operations during the morning rush hour. The up line was later restored at 7.27 am with a speed restriction of 10 kmph, while the down line was declared safe at 7.35 am, allowing trains to operate at 30 kmph.

Officials said the incident was triggered by excess water flow, which led to soil erosion and a temporary cave-in along the track section.

Suburban railway services in Mumbai were also affected after rainwater accumulated on tracks at several locations, though officials said the water level remained below the danger mark that would require suspension of train operations.

Despite services continuing, commuters reported delays and overcrowding in local trains during the morning peak hours, particularly on Central Railway corridors, leading to a difficult commute for office-goers.

Railway authorities monitored affected stretches as intermittent rain led to waterlogging in low-lying track sections. While train movement was not halted, services were reported to be running with delays on multiple routes.

The overnight rain in Mumbai led to waterlogging in several low-lying parts of the city by Wednesday morning, severely affecting road traffic and disrupting the daily commute of thousands of residents. Civic officials said water accumulation was reported in areas including the Andheri subway, Hindmata, and King’s Circle during the early hours. The inundation slowed vehicular movement and triggered congestion on multiple key arterial roads, causing delays for office-goers and public transport users.

Authorities noted that the persistent rainfall over the night had overwhelmed drainage systems in certain stretches, leading to temporary submergence of road sections. Traffic police were deployed at affected points to regulate movement and ease congestion.

A retaining wall adjacent to a residential building collapsed late Tuesday night in Mumbai’s Vikhroli West as heavy rainfall lashed the city, officials said. The incident occurred amid intense overnight showers across several parts of Mumbai, which triggered waterlogging and multiple rain-related disruptions. The wall, which stood alongside a residential structure, gave way under pressure, though officials have not yet confirmed the extent of damage or any casualties.