Water level of Mithi River rose up to 3.9 metres due to heavy rains, caused flooding in the low-lying areas of Kurla’s Kranti Nagar.
Mumbai reeled under relentless rain for 48 hours through Monday and Tuesday, recording more than 300 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours on August 19, 2025. The downpour triggered flooding and severe waterlogging across the city. The situation worsened as a high tide prevented drainage back into the sea, leaving several low-lying areas submerged.
At a press briefing, Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Guardian Minister MP Lodha, and Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani confirmed that the Mithi River’s water level rose to 3.9 metres, only a few centimetres short of the danger mark of 4.2 metres. “Floodwaters breached the riverbanks and entered the slums of Kurla’s Kranti Nagar. Authorities swiftly evacuated around 400 residents, relocating them to Maganlal Mathuram Municipal School, where food and basic facilities were arranged,” said Gagrani.
The Mithi River, vital for stormwater management, has long been at the centre of Mumbai’s monsoon struggle. Civic officials admitted that only 75 percent of the pre-monsoon desilting work was completed this year, leaving the river prone to overflow. The swelling waters once again exposed gaps in the city’s preparedness against extreme rainfall events.
Residents who returned home after the evacuation reported losses of ration supplies, damaged electronics amounting to around ₹5,000 per household, and waterlogged homes covered in silt. Some families complained of fever and respiratory infections after staying back in floodwaters to protect their belongings. Snakes and reptiles were spotted inside flooded homes, forcing residents to stay outdoors amid long electricity outages.
While BMC officials said pumping stations were operating at full capacity, urban planners reiterated that clogged drains, unregulated construction on floodplains, and delays in desilting worsened the impact of heavy rainfall.
The incident underscores Mumbai’s recurring struggle despite crores spent on flood mitigation, each intense downpour continues to cripple the city and displace its most vulnerable residents.