Mumbai was battered by heavy rain on Monday, 12 days ahead of the official monsoon schedule, bringing the city’s transportation systems to a grinding halt. As roads and rail tracks went underwater and chaos reigned across major parts of the city, political blame games escalated alongside the rainfall.
The early onset of monsoon has exposed glaring gaps in the pre-monsoon preparedness of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), currently governed by an administrator for the past three years under the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. Heavy waterlogging was reported across Andheri, Saki Naka, South and Central Mumbai, with alarming incidents of road cave-ins and metro station flooding.
Traffic jams, train cancellations, and flooding in hospitals, housing societies, and even BMC ward offices made daily life difficult for lakhs of citizens. The situation highlighted the alleged inefficiencies in the BMC’s desilting operations and overall infrastructure readiness.
Aaditya Thackeray Lashes Out: “Why Does BJP Hate Mumbai?”
Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray launched a scathing attack on the Mahayuti government, blaming its inaction and negligence for the city’s plight.
“Mumbai has collapsed in the rains—and it’s only May. We are seeing an absolute absence of governance. Hindmata and Gandhi Market, which were made flood-free under our government in 2022, are once again underwater. A newly inaugurated metro station at Worli witnessed wall collapses and waterlogging, and a newly constructed road near Kemps Corner has caved in,” Thackeray said.
He accused the administration of corruption in road construction and stormwater drain maintenance. “The road scam that I’ve been exposing has now come to haunt Mumbaikars. Gutter cleaning was half-done, and the filth was dumped next to drains and never collected. The state must initiate a fair probe into this incompetence and compensate shop owners and residents affected by waterlogging,” he added.
Congress Joins the Criticism
Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal echoed similar sentiments, stating that Mumbai’s flooding has laid bare the corruption in the BJP-led state government and the BMC.
“Even a single spell of heavy rain has exposed the gutters of corruption flowing through the streets of Mumbai. Roads, railway tracks, underpasses, hospitals, and metro stations are submerged. Every year, crores are spent on pre-monsoon desilting work. Yet, the result remains the same—total failure,” Sapkal said.
Taking a swipe at Mahayuti leaders, he remarked, “In the upcoming elections, they may have to take boats to every doorstep to seek votes, such is the state of this city.”
Eknath Shinde Defends Government
Deputy Chief Minister and Mumbai Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde dismissed the criticisms, calling them politically motivated. He questioned the record of the previous Shiv Sena-led government.
“What did they do when they were in power? Did they build a single cement concrete road in Mumbai?” Shinde asked. He assured citizens that despite the early rainfall, the government was alert and responsive.
“I have personally monitored the situation from the control room. As of now, water has receded from most areas. Normally, monsoon arrives after June 10, and our preparations were based on that timeline,” he said.
He also informed that due to the rain, a portion of an MHADA building in Mahim had collapsed, but residents were safely relocated.
