Monsoon Rains Batter Mumbai as Building Collapse Kills Six
NEW DELHI-Six people, including five children, were killed after a dilapidated residential building collapsed in Mumbai as torrential monsoon rains flooded India’s financial capital, disrupted transport and forced authorities to close schools and colleges, officials said on Monday.
The building collapsed on Sunday in eastern Mumbai, trapping residents beneath the debris, according to a statement from Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde. Rescue efforts followed as emergency teams searched the rubble for survivors.
The tragedy coincided with intense rainfall that inundated large parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department recorded more than 200 millimetres of rain within a 24-hour period and issued a red alert for Mumbai on Monday, warning that heavy rain and strong winds were expected to continue.
The severe weather prompted city authorities to declare a holiday for all schools and colleges as flooded roads and waterlogged streets disrupted normal life. Officials also urged residents to remain indoors where possible because of the risk posed by strong winds, uprooted trees and falling branches.
Mumbai, a metropolis of more than 20 million people, experiences heavy rainfall during the annual southwest monsoon, which is critical for India’s agriculture, water supplies and economic activity. While the rains are essential, they also frequently trigger flooding, infrastructure damage and transport disruptions in densely populated urban areas.
Scientists say climate change is altering weather patterns, contributing to more extreme weather events and higher temperatures across India. Authorities have also warned that this year’s El Niño weather phenomenon could affect seasonal rainfall patterns.
The latest downpours came after weeks of intense heat in Mumbai, during which authorities imposed restrictions on water use and reduced supplies to swimming pools and construction sites to conserve resources.
The city is also facing growing concerns over long-term pressure on water supplies as expanding data-centre infrastructure increases demand for water needed for cooling systems, adding to existing challenges in managing resources during periods of extreme weather.
Emergency services remained on alert as forecasters warned that adverse weather conditions were likely to persist, with authorities monitoring the impact of continued rainfall on transport, infrastructure and public safety.
