Mumbai: A tragic landslide reported in the early hours of Saturday at Jankalyan Society in Varsha Nagar area of Mumbai's Vikhroli (West), resulted in the death of two residents. The incident occurred at around 2:39 am when soil and stones loosened from a hilly patch amid heavy rains and collapsed onto a hut situated at the base of the slope. The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), which received the first report, immediately mobilised rescue teams along with local police and ward staff to the site.
2 Dead Among 4 Trapped In Debris
The hut, belonging to a family in the area, was badly crushed under the debris. Four members of the Mishra family were trapped and later rushed to Rajawadi Hospital by emergency responders. According to hospital authorities, two of the victims succumbed to their injuries before admission.
The deceased were identified as 19-year-old Shalu Mishra and 50-year-old Suresh Mishra. Two others, 45-year-old Aarti Mishra and 20-year-old Ruturaj Mishra, sustained serious injuries but were reported to be stable after being admitted to the trauma ward.
The tragic incident has once again brought focus on the vulnerability of informal settlements located at the base of hills and slopes across Mumbai, particularly during the monsoon season. Civic officials confirmed that the land where the incident occurred belongs to the collector and is classified as high-risk for landslides. Each year, warnings are issued for residents in these zones, but relocation remains a persistent challenge due to population density and housing shortages in the city.
Mumbai Lashed By Heavy Rains, Red Alert Issued
Meanwhile, heavy and relentless rainfall lashed Mumbai overnight and continued into the morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an red alert for Mumbai on August 16, forecasting heavy to very heavy showers at isolated places. The neighbouring Raigad district has also been placed under a red alert, with the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall in some areas.
As the city braced itself for a wet weekend, the overnight rain led to waterlogging in several low-lying areas, including Sion, Kings Circle, Bandra, Vile Parle and Andheri. However, train and road movement remained mostly functional with delays.
