Pre-Monsoon Rains Paralyse Mumbai, Exposing BMC's Inadequate Preparedness

Mumbai, May 22 – The city witnessed chaos on Tuesday evening as pre-monsoon rains lashed several parts of Mumbai, exposing serious lapses in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) monsoon preparedness. In a span of just three hours, from 8 pm to 11 pm, the western suburbs recorded approximately 26 mm of rainfall, eastern suburbs 15 mm, and the island city 12 mm, accompanied by thunderstorms.

The brief but intense showers left major roads submerged and traffic snarled across the city, triggering concern among residents and commuters alike. With the monsoon yet to formally arrive, the disruption caused by the pre-monsoon showers has raised red flags about the city’s readiness for the weeks ahead.

Reports of waterlogging emerged from key junctions in Andheri, Kurla, Sion, and Dadar. Commuters were stuck for hours as vehicular movement slowed to a crawl, exposing the failure of the city’s drainage infrastructure. Social media was flooded with visuals of flooded roads, stranded vehicles, and frustrated citizens.

Civic activists and citizens have criticised the BMC, pointing to the delayed desilting of storm water drains and incomplete roadworks as major contributors to the mess. Despite repeated assurances, many of the identified flood-prone spots witnessed the same familiar scenes of inundation.

“The BMC claims to be monsoon-ready every year, yet even a brief spell reveals the gaps in their preparedness. This is just the beginning,” said Ramesh Shah, a civic rights activist.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of intensifying pre-monsoon activity in the coming days due to cyclonic conditions in the Arabian Sea. It has also indicated that the monsoon is likely to arrive earlier than expected this year.

With more rains on the horizon, the spotlight is now firmly on the BMC. Citizens are demanding urgent action to mitigate the impact of the impending monsoon and prevent a repeat of Tuesday’s chaos.