Mumbai: Heavy rains battered Mumbai on Monday, flooding several low-lying areas and paralysing traffic. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attributed the inundation to an early arrival of the southwest monsoon and unusually intense rainfall in a short span, while opposition leaders blamed the state government for poor preparedness.

Shinde said parts of south Mumbai, including Nariman Point, Colaba, and the BMC headquarters, received between 207 mm and 252 mm of rainfall in just 12 hours — levels akin to a cloudburst. The usual onset date of the monsoon in Mumbai is June 11, but this year it arrived 15 days early, on May 26.

“We had planned for monsoon readiness by June 10. The early onset has caused unexpected disruption,” Shinde stated, adding that dewatering pumps were functioning and that efforts to clear major drains were ongoing.

However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray fiercely criticised the ruling government and BMC. “This is the result of BMC under BJP control. We warned two months ago to clean nullahs. Where is the so-called visionary now?” he said, targeting Shinde.

Senior Congress leader Nana Patole echoed similar concerns, calling the flooding of the state secretariat a “warning” and accusing the administration of corruption and indifference. “Filth and floods are everywhere while the government is busy hosting Union Minister Amit Shah,” he alleged.

Patole also accused the government of failing to support farmers hit by unseasonal rains and alleged that crores were being siphoned off under the pretext of cleaning rivers.

NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto also joined the chorus, pointing to Mumbai’s flooded streets as a “shame” for the government overseeing India's financial capital. “If India is the world’s fourth largest economy, why is Mumbai in this state?” he questioned.
(With ANI inputs)