Today's severe rainfall and flood-like situation has once again refreshed the horrific memories of July 26; experts stress the need to further strengthen urban planning and drainage systems.
July 26, 2005, is a dark chapter in the history of Mumbai that can never be forgotten. Just a few hours of torrential rainfall had completely paralyzed the country's financial capital. Roads began to resemble rivers, railway lines were submerged in water, thousands of vehicles were stuck on the roads, and millions of people were forced to walk for several kilometers to reach their homes.
The Santa Cruz weather station recorded 944 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, while some areas reported nearly 994 mm of rainfall. This rainfall is considered one of the worst weather disasters in the city's history.
The heavy rainfall, combined with high tide in the sea, prevented the rainwater from flowing into the Arabian Sea, and the century-old drainage system completely failed. As a result, most of the city's low-lying areas, residential colonies, markets, highways, and railway tracks were submerged in several feet of water.
Local train services were almost shut down, BEST bus services were severely affected, and airport operations were also disrupted. Millions of people who left their offices were forced to take shelter on the streets, railway stations, schools, colleges, religious places, and other buildings, while countless people walked for hours to reach their homes.
The natural disaster claimed the lives of 1,493 people, while millions of citizens were directly affected. Thousands of homes and shops were flooded, industrial and commercial activities were halted, and the city suffered economic losses worth billions of rupees. According to official estimates, thousands of vehicles, over 4,000 taxis, hundreds of BEST buses, autorickshaws, and several local trains were affected.
Experts identified several underlying causes of the disaster, including the over 100-year-old drainage system, encroachments on the Mithi river, indiscriminate cutting of mangroves, blockage of natural waterways, unplanned urban expansion, and haphazard construction. These factors severely affected the natural flow of rainwater, and the city was flooded.
After the July 26 disaster, the state government and the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) initiated several projects to improve urban infrastructure. The cleaning of the Mithi river, construction of large pumping stations, expansion of stormwater drains, and the BRIMSTOWAD project were expedited. Although thousands of crores of rupees have been spent on these projects, urban experts say that due to the continuous increase in population, encroachments, and climate change, Mumbai is still not completely safe from floods.
Incidentally, this year also, heavy rainfall on July 6 and 23 forced citizens to relive the horrific memories of 2005. Continuous torrential rainfall caused waterlogging in several low-lying areas, slowed down traffic on several highways, affected local train services at some places, and put the civic administration on alert. The meteorological department has advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise caution in view of the possibility of heavy rainfall in the future.
Urban planning experts say that due to climate change, the frequency of extreme rainfall events is increasing, so cleaning drains is not enough, but restoring natural waterways, protecting mangroves, removing encroachments, modernizing the drainage system, storing rainwater, and making urban planning scientifically based is necessary.
Despite all the devastation, Mumbai has always shown its extraordinary resilience and collective spirit. Even after July 26, 2005, citizens set an unparalleled example of humanity by helping each other, and the city returned to its normal pace within a few days. This courage, mutual cooperation, and determination to face challenges are considered the true identity of Mumbai.
Today, as 21 years have passed since the historic disaster of July 26, 2005, and the city is once again facing severe rainfall and flood threats, this incident is not just a painful memory but also an important lesson that if urban planning, environmental protection, and drainage systems are not strengthened on a permanent basis, the risks of such disasters may increase in the future.