Lifestyle

India’s financial capital is once again submerged by the annual, entirely predictable monsoon rains

A man, holding an umbrella, crosses a flooded street during heavy rains in Mumbai, India, June 19, 2015.
A man, holding an umbrella, crosses a flooded street during heavy rains in Mumbai, India, June 19, 2015.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
By
Manu Balachandran
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Change is the only constant in Mumbai, except when it comes to the monsoon rains.

Every year, without fail, the city is submerged in waist-deep water, if not more, during the monsoons. And every year, life comes to a halt in India’s financial capital, with offices, schools and public transport shutting down.

On Thursday (June 18), the city received 60.34 millimetres of rain, according to the India Meteorological Department. That’s about a tenth of the rainfall that Poland typically receives in an entire year.

As a result, the suburban trains—used by almost 7-8 million people daily—are not running on certain routes, and several flights have been delayed.

Ironically, last month, Mumbai’s local administration had claimed that it was prepared to tackle heavy rains this year. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation even installed two new pumps, costing nearly Rs200 crore ($31 million), to drain flood water. But, the rains have washed away all their preparedness and the pumps couldn’t do much to prevent severe waterlogging.

To make matters worse, the met department has warned of heavy rainfall and strong winds in Mumbai in the next 24 hours.

Here is what life looks like in the maximum city today:

Mumbai Rain
People walk over waterlogged railway tracks after getting off a stalled train during heavy monsoon rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
Mumbai rains
A man, holding an umbrella, crosses a flooded street during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
People walk through flooded roads as vehicles are seen stuck in a traffic jam due to heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
People walk through flooded roads as vehicles are seen stuck in a traffic jam due to heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
A man carries a boy as they cross a flooded street during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
A man carries a boy as they cross a flooded street during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
People are helped by police personnel as they cross a flooded road during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
People are helped by police personnel as they cross a flooded road during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
Vehicles are stuck in a traffic jam during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Vehicles are stuck in a traffic jam during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
People walk through flooded roads as vehicles are seen stuck in a traffic jam due to heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
People walk through flooded roads as vehicles are seen stuck in a traffic jam due to heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
Vehicles are stuck in a traffic jam during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Vehicles are stuck in a traffic jam during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
People walk over waterlogged railway tracks after getting off a stalled train during heavy monsoon rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
People walk over waterlogged railway tracks after getting off a stalled train during heavy monsoon rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
People cross a flooded street during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
People cross a flooded street during heavy rains in Mumbai, on June 19.
Image: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui