A section of road near the Warden Collection at Kemps Corner in South Mumbai collapsed on Monday following relentless rainfall, disrupting traffic and cutting off key access points in the area. The incident coincided with the earliest arrival of the southwest monsoon over Maharashtra in 35 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported, but routes between Kemps Corner and Mukesh Chowk have been completely blocked. Access towards Nepean Sea Road has also been barred until further notice, as structural inspections are carried out. Vehicles have been redirected via the Kemps Corner flyover.
The affected zone is a crucial residential and commercial hub linking Breach Candy, Warden Road, Pedder Road, and Nepean Sea Road. Officials have urged commuters to avoid the area and seek alternate routes. Civic engineers suspect that the collapse was caused by soil loosening due to water seepage—a frequent hazard during intense monsoon spells. A full investigation into the integrity of surrounding stormwater systems is underway.
Mumbai recorded widespread rainfall on Monday, with Nariman Point receiving 40 mm in just one hour. Other localities such as Grant Road, Colaba, and Byculla also saw significant precipitation.
The collapse has once again brought Mumbai’s ageing infrastructure under scrutiny. Despite massive yearly budgets allocated for monsoon preparedness, road cave-ins and urban flooding persist. Flights at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were delayed due to reduced visibility, while suburban trains also faced brief disruptions.
Environmental experts are calling for urgent climate-resilient infrastructure, warning that development on reclaimed land and the destruction of ecological buffers have worsened monsoon impacts. With high tides reaching 4.75 metres and further rain forecasted, authorities remain on high alert. The incident underscores the pressing need for sustainable, long-term urban planning in India’s financial capital
