A video from Dadar East’s Hindu Colony has gone viral, showing a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) worker risking his life to protect citizens during heavy rains. The employee sat near an open manhole to warn pedestrians and motorists, ensuring no one fell into the water-filled pit.

Every monsoon, Mumbai reports accidents caused by open manholes, some of them fatal. On a day when the city was struggling with flooded roads and disrupted trains, this silent act of courage stood out as the worker turned into a real-life guardian for Mumbaikars braving the downpour.

The clip captured the worker soaked in rain, yet unwavering in his duty to prevent accidents. Such measures highlight the gaps in the city’s preparedness, especially since the BMC is regarded as the wealthiest civic body in India.

Despite advanced pumps and drainage machinery, employees are still forced to use dangerous methods like guarding open manholes in person. The incident has sparked debate over why civic workers must take such extreme risks in 2025.

Mumbai has been battered by intense rainfall since Sunday night, flooding several low-lying areas. Hindmata, Kings Circle, Matunga, Five Gardens and Hindu Colony once again turned into waterlogging hotspots, leaving commuters stranded.

The BMC deployed high-capacity pumps to flush out water, but drainage remained slow as the downpour continued. In many areas, workers were seen opening manholes to divert the water and speed up relief efforts.

Mumbai’s lifeline, the local trains, was not spared. Heavy waterlogging on tracks disrupted services, while road traffic slowed to a crawl in parts of Dadar, Matunga and Sion. Cars waded through knee-deep water as stranded commuters waited for some respite.

Mumbai: As the city of Mumbai and suburban areas continue to face intense weather, significant rainfall overnight has led airlines and the Mumbai Police to issue urgent travel alerts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released red nowcast alerts for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts, predicting heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds.

More than 100 mm of rainfall was noted at the Colaba observatory, resulting in water accumulation, road closures, and warnings for coastal and low-lying regions. An orange alert has been raised from yellow, indicating continuous rain.

Airlines, such as IndiGo, are informing travelers to anticipate delays and verify flight statuses, especially since roads leading to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport are impacted by waterlogged conditions.

The Mumbai Traffic Police have changed routes because of flooding; key subways and underpasses, such as the Andheri subway, are shut down, leading to significant traffic jams in affected regions.

Authorities have additionally urged residents to steer clear of coastal and low-lying regions, reminding them to contact emergency services if necessary. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has informed about the top 10 places in Mumbai with the record of highest rainfall from September 15 from midnight to 8 AM.

Pali Chimbai, Bandra saw 176 mm, recording maximum rain while Worli Fire Station recorded 170 mm, and Adarsh Nagar in Worli was at 168 mm. Ari Tank in Bandra recorded 158 mm of rainfall while Bandra Fire Station and Frosberry Reservoir recorded 167 mm.

Dadar Fire Station recorded 160 mm, Colaba Fire Station had 159 mm rain. The lowest rainfall in Mumbai was recorded in Khar Danda, Pali Hill and A Ward Office at 148 mm and 137 mm, respectively.

Apart from Mumbai, Pune is also facing challenging weather conditions, leading to delays in flights and problems with visibility. The IMD has issued an orange alert for Pune, predicting comparable thunderstorms and increasing rainfall, with certain regions of Maharashtra, such as Raigad and Satara, being monitored.

Travellers are advised to prepare in advance, stay updated on travel information, steer clear of identified danger zones, and stay inside until conditions get better.

Thane: A portion of the gallery at a chawl collapsed in Maharashtra’s Thane district, trapping 10 persons, officials said on Monday.

The incident took place around 10.30 pm on Sunday, they said, adding the trapped persons were later rescued and all 40 flats in the chawl (row tenement) were vacated as a precautionary measure.

A part of the gallery slab on the first floor of the Sanjay Mhatre Chawl collapsed in Diva area, Thane Municipal Corporation’s disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi said.

Ten persons were trapped in three flats on the first floor and the fire brigade personnel later rescued them, he said.

The single-storey chawl, estimated to be 15 to 20 years old, is not listed as a dangerous building, he said.

Given the precarious condition of the structure, further safety measures were taken.

There are a total of 40 flats in the chawl and they were vacated as a precautionary measure. Around 35 to 40 residents have been advised to temporarily shift to their relatives’ house until further inspection and repairs, the official said.