Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Wednesday warned civic officials of strict action, including suspension, if any open manholes are found across the city after a sanitation worker fell into an uncovered drain during her inspection of rain-affected areas. The incident occurred while the Mayor was reviewing the situation in areas such as Dadar, Hindmata and Gandhi Market following heavy rainfall triggered by the southwest monsoon, which reached Mumbai on Tuesday, nearly two weeks later than its usual onset date. According to reports, torrential overnight rain caused waterlogging, traffic disruptions and damage in several parts of the city, including a wall collapse.
During the inspection, a sanitation worker associated with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) fell into an open drain. The incident prompted Tawde to strongly reprimand the officials present and issue a warning that the officer responsible for any ward where an open manhole is found could face suspension. As per NDTV, Tawde said the manhole cover had been temporarily removed to clear waste from the drainage system. She added that warning signs and barricades had been placed around the site and urged citizens to pay attention to notices and alerts issued by the BMC. The Mayor said the civic body had deployed pumps to remove accumulated water from roads and was simultaneously clearing waste blocking drains. She added that the BMC was working on a war footing to address rain-related issues across the city. The heavy rainfall also sparked a political exchange between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the state government, accusing it of prioritising politics over governance. In a post on X, he alleged that the BJP-led government had weakened the BMC financially and ignored recommendations made by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government, led by the undivided Shiv Sena, to construct rainwater holding tanks.
Thackeray argued that infrastructure such as holding tanks, pumping stations and larger stormwater drains are essential for a coastal city like Mumbai. He pointed to projects at Hindmata, Gandhi Market and Milan Subway between 2020 and 2022 as examples of successful flood-mitigation measures. He also claimed that existing pumps and holding tanks at Hindmata were not being operated effectively despite being available. Responding to the criticism, Tawde said governance requires officials and leaders to be present on the ground rather than working from home. She also took a swipe at Thackeray, alleging that he managed the COVID-19 period from home and urging opposition leaders to step out and assess the situation firsthand.