Mumbai Monsoon Fury: 45 Trees Uprooted, 25 Fires Reported as Heavy Rains Cripple City

Mumbai, May 27: Mumbai witnessed an alarming onset of the monsoon season on Monday, as record-breaking rainfall wreaked havoc across the city, toppling trees, triggering fires, and leading to widespread waterlogging. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported 79 rain-related incidents, making this one of the most turbulent starts to the monsoon in recent memory.

The downpour, which began late on Sunday, broke a 107-year-old record for rainfall in the month of May and paralyzed large parts of the city.

Among the reported incidents were 25 cases of fire caused by short circuits and 45 instances of tree falls, several of which blocked major roads. In Mahim West, a two-storey house partially collapsed, trapping two residents inside. Fortunately, they were rescued without serious injury.

In another incident, a 24-year-old man was injured after a tree fell on him near St. Xavier’s College. He is currently in stable condition.

Waterlogging was reported in several low-lying areas, with images emerging of commuters wading through knee-deep water, and vehicles stranded on waterlogged roads. The heavy rains also led to severe traffic congestion, further hampering normal life.

After the city endured hours of relentless rainfall, Tuesday morning brought some relief. Light showers and scattered rain replaced the previous day's downpour. Encouragingly, there were no major reports of waterlogging in the early hours.

Local train services, the lifeline of Mumbai, continued to operate smoothly across the Central, Western, and Harbour lines, much to the relief of office-goers and daily commuters.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the southwest monsoon officially arrived in Mumbai on May 26, the earliest onset in over 15 years. Historically, the monsoon is expected to arrive around June 11. Early arrivals were last recorded on May 29 in the years 1956, 1962, and 1971.

This year’s exceptional early arrival has prompted authorities to expedite pre-monsoon preparedness, including structural audits of old buildings and readiness checks for disaster response units.

The BMC has urged citizens to remain cautious as more rain is forecast in the coming days. Civic and disaster management teams have been placed on high alert, with a focus on ensuring quick emergency responses and minimizing risk in vulnerable areas.