Maharashtra
Mumbai Rains: Waterlogging, Severe Traffic Jams Trigger Outrage Among Activists And Citizens Over Authorities’ Failures Despite Crore-Worth Investments

Mumbai: Nearly two decades ago, Mumbaikars endured a nightmare that still lingers in their memories. Despite investing several crores of rupees, the city remains plagued by persistent waterlogging and severe traffic disruptions.
Last Wednesday, this ongoing issue came to a head, prompting backlash from activists, citizens’ associations, and former corporators who condemned the civic body for its repeated failures.
This Friday was no exception, as heavy rainfall continued from Thursday night, leading to widespread waterlogging and significant traffic disruptions across major routes. Multiple vehicle breakdowns exacerbated the traffic jams, particularly in the central and western suburbs.
As per data received from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) the city has received more than its monthly average rainfall in just five days of rainfall that began on September 23. During this period, the city recorded 393 mm of rain from September 23 to 27, exceeding the monthly average of 359.6 mm.
This significant rainfall also pushed the total seasonal precipitation past 3,000 mm, with the Santacruz observatory recording 3,016 mm as of the morning of September 27.
On Friday, One of the major disruptions occurred at the Andheri subway, which was closed after it became heavily waterlogged. This forced traffic authorities to divert vehicles to the Gokhale Bridge. Several vehicles broke down in the area, exacerbating the already dire traffic situation.
The day began with a major traffic jam at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) connector caused by a BEST bus breakdown, worsening congestion amid peak-hour traffic and the closure of the Sion Road Over Bridge (ROB).
As rainfall intensified in the western suburbs, waterlogging in areas like Andheri led to the subway’s closure. The Eastern Freeway experienced water accumulation and low visibility, significantly slowing traffic and impacting movements in the eastern suburbs and South Mumbai, including P. D’Mello Road.
Mumbai Traffic Police reported additional disruptions across the city, including delays at Aarey Bridge due to a tempo breakdown, Marine Plaza in South Mumbai from a bus breakdown, and Airoli Bridge from a car breakdown.
Other blockages were reported at Sion Hospital Road from a fallen tree, Dindoshi on Altamount Road due to a vehicle breakdown, and the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road, where another vehicle broke down.
Meanwhile, recent rainfall has led to the identification of several new flooding hotspots, including Mankhurd, Govandi, Godrej Jetty in Vikhroli East, Bhandup and Powai.
Civic data reveals that Mankhurd recorded an astonishing 276.20 mm of rain between 6 pm and 10 pm on Wednesday, while Bhandup received 198.39 mm. The average rainfall in the eastern suburbs during this period was 167.48 mm.
Overflowing drains also caused waterlogging on the railway tracks severely affecting Central and Harbour Railway services. Reflecting on the past, activists noted that on July 26, 2005, the city was overwhelmed by 944 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours.
Today, even a mere 200 mm can result in flooding. The rampant concretisation has destroyed natural drainage systems, leaving no place for rainwater to go. Additionally, construction debris and garbage dumped in nullahs continue to choke stormwater drains, worsening the situation, activists expressed.
The civic body claimed that around 300 dewatering pumps were activated on Wednesday. However, sources noted that many of these pumps were unable to handle the water pressure and failed to recede rainwater quickly.
Former Opposition leader Ravi Raja expressed his frustration, stating, “Shame on the BMC for their failure to properly cover nullahs or fix manholes. They have squandered hundreds of crores yet still fail to fulfill their responsibilities. The annual spending on desilting work is merely eyewash—public money goes down the drain.”
The Andheri subway has been shut down multiple times this monsoon. Dhaval Shah, founder of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association, added, “The narrowing of the nullah has obstructed water flow. The BMC doesn’t need to implement fancy solutions; they simply need to remove encroachments near Mogra nullah.”
Activist Godfrey Pimenta expressed concern, stating, “Despite substantial taxpayer investments in infrastructure, the situation is deteriorating. We’re witnessing the alarming collapse of bridges, flooding in subways, crumbling buildings, and frequent fire incidents. It’s clear that the BMC has failed to fulfill its mandate for effective civic management.”
Environmental activist Zoru Bhathena added, “In 2005, the city experienced exceptional rainfall of 944 mm, but now even 200 mm leads to waterlogging in several areas. It’s shameful that the situation hasn’t improved. Rainwater should be absorbed by the ground, with excess flowing into the drains. The BMC spends crores annually on drains and concrete, but where will the water go?”.
Meanwhile, a senior civic official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted, “The IMD issued a red alert at 5:40 PM on Wednesday, but heavy rain had already started, and commuters were heading home. When we pump out water, it should go into the stormwater drains; however, the nallahs and drains were overflowing, leaving us unable to dispose of the excess water. In recent years, we’ve seen changing rainfall patterns, resulting in record levels of rain in specific areas.”
The official added that coastal cities like Mumbai are increasingly vulnerable due to extensive concretisation, which limits natural drainage and reduces water absorption capacity. “The stormwater drains in the suburbs can handle around 50 mm of rain per hour, while the island city has underground drains. We are currently identifying new flooding spots alongside the existing ones, and our officials will inspect each site to determine remedial measures,” he added.
Maharashtra
Visit to Deonar Bakra Mandi on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, important meeting led by Mumbai Congress President Prof. Varshatai Gaikwad

Mumbai: On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, a delegation led by Lok Sabha MP and Mumbai Congress President Smt. Prof. Varshatai Gaikwad saheb visited Deonar Bakra Mandi (Slaughterhouse).
On this occasion, she had a special meeting with the General Manager of Deonar Slaughterhouse, Mr. Kaleem Pasha Pathan and discussed in detail the problems faced by the public and traders present in the mandi.
The main points of the discussion were as follows:
Problems faced by traders
Care and maintenance of animals
Cleanliness situation in the mandi
Traffic problems and their solutions
Difficulties faced by common citizens
Professor Gaikwad saheb gave necessary instructions to the concerned authorities for the early resolution of all these problems and assured that Mumbai Congress stands with the people.
Honorable MLA Mr. Aslam Sheikh Sahib, Honorable MLA Mr. Amin Patel Sahib, MLA Dr. Jyoti Tai Gaikwad Sahib, former Corporator and former Chairman of Mumbai Congress Minority Wing Haji Babbu Khan Sahib and other senior leaders and office bearers of Mumbai Congress were also present in this important visit.
The visit was a positive effort for mutual discussions, identification of problems and effective steps to resolve them, which makes an auspicious occasion like Eid more meaningful.
Maharashtra
ATS crackdown on 22 members including suspected member of Padgha Daesh Saqib Nachan, ATS conducted midnight operation on relatives

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has claimed to have seized several important documents and items during raids at the homes of Saqib Nachan, a former member of ISIS and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and 22 of his close associates and relatives. The ATS had received information that important documents and other items were hidden at the homes of Saqib Nachan and his close associates, after which the ATS launched the raids at 2 am last night and the operation continued till 4 am, after which the ATS team left for Mumbai. During this operation, the ATS team also cordoned off the entire area. In Borivali Pargham, ATS has conducted raids on Abid Ashraf Mulla, Moaz Mulla, Aqib Saqib Nachan, Abdul Latif Shadab Kaskar, Urmesh Irfan Mulla, Hashim Nadvi, Farooq Mulla, Nabeel Malik Khot, Qais Arif Khot, Kaif Nachan, Sahil Munyar, Adnan Mulla, Shero Deokar, Sharjeel Nachan, Sajid Nachan, Zeeshan Mulla, Atif Mulla, Shams Khot, Asjad Mulla, Raif Khot, Abid Khot. During this time, some of them were on Hajj trips, so they were not present at home.
In this case, ATS conducted raids and did not arrest anyone during house searches. Zubair Mulla, a resident of a small mosque who deals in land, was on a Hajj trip. Zubair Mulla was convicted in the 2002 and 2003 bomb blasts and was also sentenced. Now he is lodged in Delhi jail along with Saqib Nachan in the case of ISIS connection in Delhi. Abdul Latif Kaskar is employed in Godam and is also a friend of Farhan Sousa in the Delhi ISIS case. Shams Khot, Rais Khot, Abid Ashraf Mulla, Moaz Ashraf Mulla, Qais Asif Khot were not present at the house during the search, while a raid was conducted at Kalyan’s house in Sahil Munyar and he was also not present here.
ATS had found Saqib Nachan active in terrorist activities again since 2017. During this time, ATS had kept an eye on him and a case was also registered against him, but in this case, NIA had arrested Saqib Nachan in the ISIS case. First, his son Aqib Nachan was arrested and then Saqib will also be arrested. ATS has also claimed to have seized several important documents during the operation, which will be investigated and then the action will progress accordingly. Maharashtra ATS has conducted raids at 15 places including Mumbai police station Bhiwandi Kalyan and during this, action has also been taken against suspected members of ISIS. In this operation, ATS is expected to find many important documents and evidence. The ATS has taken action in this case against those accused of being involved in anti-national and illegal activities. ATS is taking further action in this case, while no arrest has been made so far after searching anyone.
Crime
Thane Crime: Man Attacked With Sword In Kalyan For Dispute Over Construction Of Toilet Near House

Mumbai: In a separate incident, a 15-year-old boy has been detained for allegedly murdering his co-worker, 22-year-old Kaisar Azgar Ali, in Bhiwandi. The incident occurred on Wednesday, May 28, in the night at a worksite in Mankoli village, where both were employed as carpenters.
According to police, a minor argument escalated into a violent attack. The minor allegedly first struck Ali with a hammer, then used a plywood grinder to fatally injure him, slitting his neck and shoulder. Investigating Officer D.K. Kadam stated that the minor had been upset with Ali’s behaviour at the site and the situation turned violent after Ali allegedly struck him during the altercation.
The minor fled the scene, but police were alerted by the house owner and contractor who discovered the crime. A panchnama was conducted and the boy was located, detained and presented before the Juvenile Justice Board. He was remanded to an observation home. Ali was rushed to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Thane: A 24-year-old man, Vikrant Jadhav, was brutally attacked with a sword in Umbarde, Kalyan West on Sunday. The assault is believed to be the result of an ongoing land dispute. According to reports citing police sources, Jadhav was fetching water when he was ambushed and attacked. He is currently receiving treatment for serious injuries at Rukminibai Hospital in Kalyan.
The victim’s father, Vijay Jadhav, has accused members of the neighbouring Gaikwad family of orchestrating the attack. The two families have reportedly been at loggerheads for years over property issues. Vijay had previously filed a police complaint against the Gaikwads, alleging that they had threatened to kill his family if he did not halt construction of a toilet adjacent to their home, reported Hindustan Times.
The Khadakpada police have registered a case under Section 118 (causing hurt with dangerous weapons) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and are currently investigating the matter. Efforts are underway to identify all the assailants and verify the allegations of prior threats and extortion.
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