MUMBAI: Five children were among six people killed after a residential building collapsed in Mumbai as torrential monsoon rains lashed India’s financial capital, officials said on Monday.
The ageing building collapsed on Sunday in the eastern part of the city, trapping residents beneath the rubble, according to Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde.
The tragedy came as intense rainfall disrupted normal life across Mumbai, with the India Meteorological Department recording more than 200 millimetres of rain over a 24-hour period.
India’s annual monsoon is vital for agriculture and industry, providing essential rainfall for hundreds of millions of people. However, changing weather patterns linked to climate change have increased the frequency of extreme weather events, while this year’s El Niño conditions have also raised concerns over reduced seasonal rainfall.
The weather department has issued a red alert for Mumbai, forecasting continued heavy rain and strong winds on Monday.
With widespread flooding affecting roads across the city, authorities declared a holiday for all schools and colleges.
Mayor Tawde urged residents to remain indoors where possible, warning of the risk posed by falling trees and branches due to powerful winds.
The heavy rains followed weeks of intense heat in Mumbai, during which authorities imposed water-use restrictions and reduced supplies to swimming pools and construction sites.
The city, home to more than 20 million people, is also facing growing concerns over pressure on water resources as expanding data-centre infrastructure increases demand for water needed to cool large computing facilities.
