Mumbai Turns into Floating Garbage Sea After Heavy Rain — Watch Viral Video

Mumbai experienced heavy rainfall exceeding 60 mm within 24 hours, resulting in widespread chaos, waterlogging, and significant disruption across the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 62 mm of rain at the Santacruz observatory and 23 mm at the Colaba station. These downpours triggered multiple difficulties in daily life, with many social media videos documenting the challenges faced by residents, including traffic congestion and flooded streets.

One particular viral video from Sakinaka captured public attention and outrage. The footage showed streets submerged in water, with large amounts of floating garbage causing severe traffic jams and making movement difficult for commuters. This video, shared by the Twitter handle @mumbaimatterz with the caption “OMG …. This is SakiNaka…It's a Pathetic Sight…But better than Singapore for some,” sparked widespread criticism on social media about Mumbai’s poor waste management and inadequate drainage systems.

Many social media users expressed frustration at the local authorities for failing to manage garbage effectively. Some pointed out that people habitually throw trash on the streets and park vehicles in a way that blocks garbage removal efforts, exacerbating the flooding problem. Comments also noted that areas such as Andheri-Kurla Road, particularly the Sakinaka-Asalpha stretch, which previously did not suffer from waterlogging, now floods even with minor rainfall, raising concerns about what has gone wrong in recent years.

Other users questioned the city’s governance, wondering when property and road taxes would increase or fines would be imposed in the name of transforming Mumbai into a “world-class smart city.” Many expressed embarrassment and disappointment over the city’s failure to handle routine monsoon challenges despite the substantial revenue collected from its residents.

The heavy rainfall was accompanied by thunder and lightning, affecting various parts of Mumbai on Tuesday evening. Between 8 am on May 20 and 8 am on May 21, the average rainfall recorded was 24 mm in the city center, 26 mm in the eastern suburbs, and 40 mm in the western suburbs. According to the IMD classification, rainfall between 15.6 mm and 64.4 mm is categorized as “moderate,” indicating the rain intensity that Mumbai experienced.

This pattern of rainfall, while classified as moderate, exposed significant infrastructural weaknesses in the city’s drainage and waste management systems. The resulting waterlogging severely impacted daily activities, public transport, and traffic flow, amplifying the challenges for the city’s residents during the monsoon season.

In summary, the recent heavy rains in Mumbai not only caused extensive waterlogging and traffic disruptions but also highlighted ongoing civic issues such as inadequate garbage disposal, blocked drains, and poor urban planning. Public frustration, voiced strongly on social media, underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and better governance to prevent similar problems in future monsoons. The event serves as a stark reminder that despite Mumbai’s status as India’s financial hub, the city still struggles with basic urban management challenges, affecting the quality of life for its millions of inhabitants.