Mumbai woke up to its first major pre-monsoon spell of the season as heavy rains lashed several parts of the city, triggering waterlogging and massive traffic disruptions. Areas including Andheri, Bandra, Khar, Malad, Goregaon, Juhu, Versova and Vakola witnessed intense rainfall, while key stretches of the Western Express Highway and the Andheri subway faced severe disruptions. The IMD has issued a yellow alert and forecast more rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds in the coming days. With the southwest monsoon expected to advance soon, Mumbai may be heading into a wet and challenging week ahead.

A massive demolition drive in Mumbai’s Garib Nagar near Bandra station has sparked chaos, outrage and violent clashes as hundreds of shanties are being razed for the Western Railway’s Bandra Terminus expansion project. Authorities say the operation is necessary to increase the station’s operational capacity, but residents claim the drive has turned into a humanitarian crisis. The demolition began after a Bombay High Court order and has already led to the arrest of 19 people following clashes between locals and authorities. Around 500 structures are being cleared as part of the railway redevelopment project.