Mumbai witnessed widespread disruption and tragedy as relentless monsoon rain and unusually strong winds claimed eight lives, including six people killed in a building collapse in Mankhurd. The downpour also made South Mumbai record its wettest July day in more than five decades.
Late on Sunday, a four-storey building in Mankhurd collapsed onto an adjoining shanty, killing six people, including five children, and injuring one woman. The victims—Munaf (7), Aliya (7), Muskan (14), Nihal (6), Nabiya (2) and Soni (32)—were declared dead after being taken to hospital. According to officials, four of the deceased belonged to the same family.
The severe weather also caused more than 200 tree collapses across the city. An 18-year-old motorcyclist was killed after a tree branch fell on him in Aarey Colony on Saturday night, while a 63-year-old shopkeeper died when a branch struck him in Kurla on Sunday morning. The incidents come just days after an 11-year-old boy was killed when a tree fell on his school van in Chembur.
Strong winds, reaching over 70 kmph in South Mumbai and up to 75 kmph in suburban areas such as Bandra—well above the typical 30–40 kmph experienced during the monsoon—also disrupted flight operations at Mumbai airport.
The India Meteorological Department reported that its Colaba observatory recorded 265.6 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am Sunday, making it the wettest July day in the island city in more than 50 years. The previous record was 417.2 mm on July 31, 1975. The Santacruz observatory recorded 227.7 mm, its second-highest 24-hour July rainfall in the past five years.
The weather department has issued an orange alert for Monday, forecasting more heavy rain. In response, schools and colleges across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region have been declared closed.
Mumbai sees fifth consecutive day of triple-digit rainfall
Mumbai has now recorded triple-digit rainfall for the fifth consecutive day, with the heaviest showers occurring between July 4 and July 5.
Since July 1, the Santacruz observatory has recorded 805.6 mm of rainfall—about 94% of its average July rainfall of 855.7 mm. Colaba has already exceeded its monthly average, receiving 744.2 mm against the normal 734.1 mm.
Meteorologists said that if the current spell continues, Mumbai could receive its average rainfall for the entire month within the next two to three days. Rainfall is expected to ease from July 8, when only moderate showers are forecast.
Heavy rain continued throughout Sunday, with Colaba and Santacruz receiving 49 mm and 66 mm, respectively, in the 12 hours ending 8:30 pm.
The wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region also experienced intense rainfall. Belapur recorded its highest single-day rainfall of the season at 303 mm, causing flooding in low-lying areas and significant traffic congestion. Other rainfall totals included Navi Mumbai (210.76 mm), Thane (184.66 mm), Ambernath (186 mm), Ulhasnagar (168 mm), Murbad (137 mm), Bhiwandi (129 mm), Kalyan (101 mm), Shahapur (78 mm), Vasai (179 mm) and Palghar (273 mm).
July is typically Mumbai’s wettest month, with the city often receiving more than 1,000 mm of rainfall during the month.
