Overview

• Social media tributes mark 20 years since Mumbai’s unprecedented 944 mm downpour brought the city to a standstill on July 26, 2005.
• Post-2005 reforms included creation of specialized disaster management units and phased upgrades to the colonial-era drainage network.
• Experts warn that outdated drains and unchecked urban expansion continue to amplify flood risks during heavy monsoons.
• Citizens and officials question whether current emergency protocols and infrastructure can withstand increasingly extreme rainfall driven by climate change.
• Calls are growing for accelerated completion of flood defenses, expanded mangrove restoration and more robust early-warning systems.