Mumbai's 'Sponge City Wars': Aaditya Thackeray & Ritu Tawde Tangle As BMC Worker Falls Into Manhole In Front Of Mayor

Last Updated:June 24, 2026, 16:49 IST

The heavy rain on the second day of the Mumbai monsoon quickly escalated into a political flashpoint

Heavy rainfall has lashed Mumbai since Wednesday morning, triggering severe waterlogging across several low-lying areas and reigniting a sharp political debate over the city’s monsoon preparedness. According to Bikram Singh, director of IMD Mumbai, the monsoon became highly active from June 22 after an initial stall, leading to extremely heavy downpours across the region over a 24-hour period. By afternoon, the city area had received an average of 13 mm of rain, while the Eastern Suburbs recorded 6 mm and the Western Suburbs saw 7 mm, according to official data.

Despite stable traffic conditions later in the day, the morning’s intense downpour led to a distressing incident at Gandhi Market in Sion during an official inspection of rain-hit areas. Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde was present on the ground overseeing civic operations when a BMC sanitation worker accidentally fell into an open manhole while clearing garbage from the drain. The worker was immediately rescued by onlookers at the scene. In the wake of the incident, Mayor Tawde strongly reprimanded the civic officials present, demanded an explanation for the lapse, and issued a strict warning that any ward officer found leaving manholes open could face suspension.

The heavy rain on the second day of the Mumbai monsoon quickly escalated into a political flashpoint. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the administration, describing the widespread problems as a reminder for the government to focus on governance rather than politics. Thackeray advocated for Mumbai to adopt “sponge city" measures, pointing out that between 2020 and 2022, the BMC had successfully introduced rainwater holding tanks at chronic flooding spots like Hindmata, Gandhi Market, and Milan Subway. He argued that these tanks, alongside pumping stations and wider stormwater drains, are vital for a coastal city. He further alleged that the current system is not being operated properly, claiming no new holding tanks have been constructed over the past four years.

Mayor Ritu Tawde dismissed the criticisms coming from opposition leaders, including Thackeray and former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar. Tawde stated that effective civic work requires “being out on the streets and getting wet in the rain rather than holding press conferences from home". Emphasising that residents are now seeing leadership actively overseeing work on the ground, she reiterated her commitment to resolving the waterlogging issues and ensured that strict action would be taken against negligent officials to prevent open-manhole hazards.

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