Landslide in Mumbai kills 7 as monsoon rains drench India

MUMBAI, India (AP) — Intense monsoon rainfall prompted a devastating landslide in Mumbai's densely populated Ghatkopar suburb on Wednesday morning, resulting in at least seven fatalities and four injuries, according to authorities. The hillside collapse struck before dawn, collapsing onto several residences in a tightly packed cluster of homes.

Rescue teams, comprising firefighters, police, and the National Disaster Response Force, swiftly launched a rescue operation but were hindered by narrow access lanes that precluded the use of heavy machinery. Despite their efforts, they managed to extricate 10 individuals from the rubble, with six victims succumbing to their injuries upon arrival at a government hospital.

Four others were hospitalized and are receiving medical attention. One individual remains missing as rescue crews continue clearing the debris. The mayor of Mumbai, Ritu Tawde, visited the scene and pledged financial assistance to the affected families. India's weather department has issued a forecast of continued active monsoon conditions across western India.

Authorities have urged residents in flood- and landslide-prone regions to remain vigilant. Mumbai, home to over 20 million people, typically experiences its heaviest rainfall between June and September, with torrential downpours often inundating roads, railway lines, and disrupting air and rail traffic. These heavy rains also trigger landslides and building collapses, particularly in densely populated hillside settlements where houses are often constructed on unstable slopes.

Experts have long cautioned that rapid urbanization, construction on fragile hillsides, and inadequate drainage have heightened Mumbai's vulnerability to deadly monsoon-related disasters, compounded by climate change bringing heavier and more unpredictable rainfall.