At least six individuals, five of whom were children, lost their lives when several buildings collapsed in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs on Sunday. The incident occurred amid relentless heavy rains that have severely affected the city, India’s financial hub. The tragedy unfolded in the Mankhurd slum area, where two to three multi-storey structures gave way under the intense downpour.
The collapse claimed the lives of a woman and five young children, adding to the mounting casualties caused by the monsoon season in the city. Additionally, falling trees have resulted in at least three other fatalities in Mumbai since late last month, highlighting the widespread impact of the severe weather.
The persistent rainfall has caused extensive disruption to the region’s infrastructure. Landslides triggered by the downpour blocked the vital expressway connecting Mumbai with Pune, leading authorities to halt traffic between these two major cities. Television footage revealed large concrete debris scattered across the motorway, with rainwater pouring from tunnel roofs, illustrating the scale of the disruption.
The impact extended beyond roadways, as aviation officials reported significant flight delays, and long-distance rail services between Mumbai and Pune were cancelled, stranding thousands of commuters. Parts of Mumbai experienced over 100mm of rainfall in a short period, with some low-lying areas recording up to 161mm, resulting in severe flooding. Local media showed residents wading through waist-deep water in submerged neighborhoods.
In response to these hazardous conditions, local authorities ordered the closure of all schools and colleges on Monday as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, the meteorological department forecasted a brief easing of the weather, predicting light to very light rain across the national capital territory, offering some relief to the affected areas.
