Mumbai: Mumbai’s newly-inaugurated Worli underground metro station was left inundated after heavy overnight rainfall marked the early arrival of the southwest monsoon in Maharashtra. Visuals from the scene showed muddy water flooding the station premises, reaching up to the platform level, disrupting services and raising concerns over infrastructure quality.
The Worli station is part of the Mumbai Metro Line 3, which became operational on May 10, connecting Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Acharya Atre Chowk. However, just weeks after its launch, the station witnessed severe waterlogging due to continuous downpour. Several videos circulating on social media showed passengers navigating the flooded platform with rolled-up pants and slippers. In one clip, water was seen dripping from the roof of the station, indicating a potential leak and highlighting apparent drainage system failures.
The incident has triggered criticism from commuters and citizens alike. One user on X (formerly Twitter) sarcastically commented, “We are idiots. They were serious when they named it Aqua Line,” referring to the line’s nickname.
The flooding wasn’t limited to the metro station. In a separate incident, a portion of the road at Kemps Corner in South Mumbai caved in, restricting traffic in the area. Located in one of Mumbai’s posh neighborhoods, Kemps Corner connects key roads such as Breach Candy, Pedder Road, Warden Road, and Nepean Sea Road. Authorities have shut the road near Warden Collection for vehicles traveling towards Mukesh Chowk, redirecting traffic back towards the Kemps Corner flyover. The administration is on-site managing the situation and advising commuters to use alternate routes.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the monsoon arrived in Maharashtra on Sunday, marking its earliest onset in 35 years. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to continue across the western coast—including Kerala, Karnataka, coastal Maharashtra, and Goa—for the next seven days.
In Mumbai, the downpour caused disruptions in transportation, with flight and train operations affected. Areas like Nariman Point recorded 40 mm of rainfall in a single hour this morning, while Grant Road, Colaba, and Byculla received 36 mm, 31 mm, and 21 mm respectively. Airlines including SpiceJet and Air India have advised passengers to confirm their flight statuses before heading to the airport.
As the city braces for continued rains, the early flooding at a newly launched metro station has sparked widespread concern over the preparedness and durability of Mumbai’s urban infrastructure.
