Mumbai: Mumbai Maharashtra Samajwadi Party and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has expressed grief over the building collapse in Mankhurd and questioned the action of the BMC administration in this matter. Amidst the ongoing heavy rains in the Mandla area of ​​Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency, a tragic incident took place. A three-storey building collapsed like a deck of cards, resulting in the untimely and tragic death of six people. This tragedy has once again exposed illegal construction and administrative negligence in Mumbai. As soon as the information about the incident was received, local MLA Abu Asim Azmi reached Shatabdi Hospital to meet the victims and console them and ensure proper treatment of the injured. He also visited the spot to supervise the relief and rescue operations and directed the authorities to provide all possible assistance to the affected families immediately. This horrific accident has raised serious questions about the functioning and corruption of the Municipal Corporation (BMC). As per the 1995 Act, the concerned Ward Officer and Bat Officer are directly responsible for any illegal construction, and action is taken against them. The government has provided protection to the slums built in 2000 and again in 2011 from time to time, but currently there is no control over the illegal storeys being constructed in violation of the rules. The question is growing in the area that how can anyone dare to build illegal structures above 14 feet without the secret consent or connivance of the local municipal authorities? The irony is that whenever there is an attempt to stop these dangerous illegal constructions, some corrupt BMC officials shirk their responsibility and conspire to defame the public representatives. Due to their helplessness and limited space, poor citizens often pay bribes to build a roof to shelter themselves. But if administrative corruption is stopped and the laws are strictly implemented, such tragic accidents in which innocent lives are lost can be stopped forever. Now the public is directly asking whether the BMC is not responsible for this blatant negligence and whether the government will conduct a high-level investigation into the matter and take strict and punitive action against the guilty officials. On the incidents of this building collapse, Azmi has asked the government that a high-level inquiry into this matter will be conducted and the police will take strict action against it.

The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was adjourned for the day on Monday following an official statement by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressing the catastrophic rainfall gripping Mumbai and surrounding districts. The severe weather conditions, which have forced widespread infrastructure closures, triggered an immediate suspension of the legislative proceedings to allow the government and administration to focus fully on disaster management and relief operations.

Making a statement on the floor of the House before the adjournment, CM Fadnavis detailed the staggering scale of the natural crisis. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), alongside Thane, Raigad, Palghar, and parts of Pune and Nashik, have been battered by continuous, extremely heavy rainfall well above seasonal averages. “The state government has put all emergency apparatus on the highest level of alert,” Chief Minister Fadnavis informed the Assembly.

He stated that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued absolute red alerts for multiple districts, tracking gusty wind speeds ranging between 70 and 90 km/hour that have already caused widespread destruction, including numerous tree collapses and severe structural damage.

In an unprecedented move to ensure public safety and streamline communication, the Chief Minister announced that the state’s automated systems are directly broadcasting emergency SMS alerts every three hours to residents trapped in the worst-hit zones.

“We are dealing with an intense and evolving natural emergency. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local civic bodies are deployed in full capacity. Our absolute priority right now is preventing loss of life and executing rescue operations,” said the Chief Minister.

CM Fadnavis provided a stark statistical contrast to underscore the severity of the current storm. “On average, Mumbai records about 800 tree-collapse incidents over the entire course of an annual monsoon season. However, yesterday alone, 350 trees fell in a single day. Today is turning out to be significantly more critical, which is why we have officially requested employers to grant Work From Home,” he added. The Chief Minister warned lawmakers and citizens that the metropolis is bracing for severe atmospheric conditions later in the day,” he said.

“Wind reaching speeds of 70 to 90 kilometres per hour is expected to lash the city after this afternoon. These powerful winds will pose an extreme threat to standing trees. It is absolutely vital that people remain highly alert and vigilant to this danger,” he stated.

Given the dual threat of continuous torrential downpours and high-velocity winds, the state government has issued a strict advisory to minimise vehicular and pedestrian movement on the streets. The Chief Minister outlined key safety instructions for residents. ”Citizens are strongly advised to cancel commutes and stay indoors unless an absolute emergency arises,” he said.

Directing a special appeal to the youth, the Chief Minister requested them to refrain from visiting beaches, promenades, and waterfalls. “Looking at the severity of the winds forecasted for today, I specifically urge the younger generation to completely avoid sightseeing and monsoon tourism,” he emphasised.

The state administration and civic bodies remain on high alert, with emergency response teams deployed across vulnerable pockets of the city to clear fallen trees and manage potential structural hazards as the storm peaks, he noted.

Before the House adjournment, the monsoon fury prompted political confrontation. Opposition MLAs staged a massive protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan, raising slogans against the ruling government over its failure to handle the season’s first major downpour.

Holding placards, opposition leaders shouted slogans mocking the administration’s infrastructure claims, chanting: “The government that leaves citizens to die in manholes deserves condemnation!” and “Lost, lost, the ‘Infra-man’ is lost!” to protest Mumbai’s widespread water logging and civic mismanagement.

Following torrential rains in Mumbai and across Maharashtra, the opposition demanded a high-level probe and strict action against negligent officials over multiple rain-related casualties.

Speaking on the floor of the House as the monsoon session commenced, the Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar highlighted the loss of innocent lives in the state capital. Over the last two days alone, Mumbai has recorded 12 fatalities due to various rain-induced incidents, including citizens falling into open manholes, tree collapses, and a structural collapse in Mankhurd. “These tragic incidents raise serious questions about the administration’s monsoon preparedness and disaster management efficiency,” Wadettiwar stated.

He argued that timely pre-monsoon surveys of dilapidated buildings, tree trimming, securing manholes, and clear drainage planning could have easily prevented these casualties.

Wadettiwar and other opposition members also raised serious concerns over the infrastructure breakdown on major transit routes. A massive landslide near the ‘Missing Link’ project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway brought traffic to a complete standstill. “This is the same project that recently faced criticism over severe potholes. Now, a major landslide has severely impacted traffic on the Expressway, the old Mumbai-Pune highway, and railway operations in the ghat sections, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours,” the Congress leader added.

The Opposition demanded that the state government immediately release an official statement outlining the ground reality, ongoing rescue operations, and future disaster mitigation plans. He insisted on a time-bound, high-level inquiry to fix administrative accountability and penalise negligent officers.

The CM and other ministers urged the opposition to cooperate during a humanitarian crisis rather than weaponising natural disasters for political leverage. Following the Chief Minister’s statement, the Speaker, Rahul Narwekar, announced that the House will be adjourned for the day, saying that the present situation can be handled collectively.

Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad targeted the ruling Mahayuti government, pointing out that newly inaugurated infrastructure projects — such as the multi-crore connecting road link — have quickly developed dangerous potholes and structural erosion within days of heavy rain.

Meanwhile, the scale of the disaster grew starker on Sunday night when a tragic three-story chawl collapse in Mumbai’s Mankhurd area claimed the lives of six individuals, including five children.

The relentless downpour has successfully paralysed the state’s primary economic arteries. Traffic on both the critical Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the old highway has been entirely suspended following a massive landslide near the Khopoli-Kusgaon ‘Missing Link’ project, where boulders partially buried the carriageway.

Local suburban rail networks and long-distance trains linking Mumbai to Pune have suffered major halts due to heavily flooded tracks in low-lying stations like Sion and Raigad sectors.

Educational institutions, including all government and private schools across Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, remained shut. Furthermore, the University of Mumbai postponed all examinations scheduled for July 6, citing the safety of commuting students.

Raigad, July 6: Relentless monsoon rains continued to lash large parts of Maharashtra, severely affecting Raigad district, the Konkan region, Mahabaleshwar, Matheran and the Mumbai–Pune Expressway. Heavy rainfall has led to flooding, landslides, road closures and major travel disruptions, prompting authorities to remain on high alert.

Several routes leading to popular hill stations, including Mahabaleshwar and Matheran, have been affected due to heavy rain, waterlogging and landslide threats. Tourist movement has been significantly impacted as authorities continue to monitor the situation and implement safety measures wherever required.

Traffic on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway has been disrupted at several stretches because of poor visibility, continuous rainfall and slippery road conditions. Motorists have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel through ghat sections and drive with extreme caution.

Raigad district has witnessed rising river levels, overflowing streams and localized flooding in low-lying villages. Disaster response teams and local authorities remain deployed in vulnerable areas to respond swiftly to any emergency.

Across the Konkan region, continuous rainfall has caused waterlogging, damage to rural roads and interruptions to transportation in several villages. Authorities are keeping a close watch on landslide-prone locations and riverbanks as the rain continues.

Emergency response teams, police, fire services and district disaster management authorities remain on standby across the affected regions. Rescue equipment and emergency personnel have been positioned at key locations to ensure immediate response if required.

Residents and travellers have been advised to avoid unnecessary journeys, stay away from rivers, waterfalls and landslide-prone areas, and follow official safety instructions until weather conditions improve. Authorities continue to monitor the evolving monsoon situation and remain prepared for rescue and relief operations wherever necessary.