Early Monsoon Hits Mumbai Hard: SoBo Flooded, Roads Clogged, Rail Services Delayed

The first rains of the Monsoon 2025, disrupted the city on Monday, taking several areas under water, delaying suburban railway services and bringing road traffic to a grinding halt. The office goers were several affected, with many stranded in the trains and road traffic in the morning peak hours. The flooding had reduced by night, however, the road traffic and rail services ran at a slow pace. 

The city witnessed rainfall with thunderstorms from Sunday night and the intensity of rainfall drastically increased by Monday morning. Upto 5.30 pm, the overall rainfall the Colaba observatory recorded was 144.3 mm rainfall and Santacruz observatory recorded 74.3 mm. South Mumbai witnessed the highest rainfall across the city, with areas recording rainfall more than 200 mm.

From Sunday 11 pm to Monday 11 am (in the period of 12 hours), the areas which recorded the highest rainfall in the were: Nariman point (252 mm), CSMT (215 mm), Colaba (207 mm) and Grant Road (202 mm). Some other areas which recieved heavy showers were Malabar Hill (136 mm), Worli (130 mm), Haji Ali (123 mm), Dadar (103 mm), Santacruz (107 mm), Bandra (90 mm), Dharavi (89 mm), Chembur (82 mm) Lower Parel (81 mm)and Kurla (76 mm) among others.

Due to heavy downpour in south Mumbai, several locations witnessed flooding for the first time. Areas like Churchgate station, CSMT exit, Old US consulate area in Breach Candy and Oval Maidan and it's surrounding roads were also waterlogged. The south Mumbai residents blamed the haphazard construction activities and incomplete storm water desilting work leading to flooding. "We can't imagine what will happen if the jetty comes up in Colaba. In future the water logging will spread to areas like BEST Marg, Apollo Bunder, Henry Road, Walton Road can also get flooded if the jetty construction starts," said the members of Clean Heritage Colaba Residents Association.

While the traditional flooding spots like Kings Circle, Sion, Hindmata and Dadar TT among other were flooded. In a disaster like situation, rain water entered BMC-run KEM hospital in Parel. The operations at Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) located on the ground floor was affected by the waterlogging, however, the authorities quickly took actions to resume services. KEM is the biggest civic run hospital in Mumbai.

In another disaster like situation, a portion of a road caved in Kemps corner area of south Mumbai. A BEST bus got stuck, but fortunately no injuries were reported. The BMC started the work on removing the asphalt on the road of the affected area and the road was barricaded. 

While, the residents of Mahim were shocked to see a huge iron peice washed ashore near Savera Housing Society. "The locals were shocked to see a heavy metal like structure floating near the sea shore on early Monday morning. It is believed it came from Bandra Worli Sea Link. The authorities sent a boat to take away the floating piece," said Irfan Machiwala, resident of Mahim.

Across the city, from Sunday 8 pm to Monday 8 am, across the city, total 18 short circuit incidents were reported, 32 tree collapses and five incidents of wall collapse were reported.