Even as Mumbai continues to grapple with heavy monsoon rains, many families living in landslide-prone settlements are choosing to remain in their homes despite recurring warnings from civic authorities. Days before a building collapse in Mankhurd claimed six lives, another landslide struck the Parksite area of Vikhroli, damaging several homes built along a hill slope.
The incident, which reduced a number of informal houses to rubble after mud and rocks came crashing down, did not result in any casualties. However, several families lost their homes and belongings. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) later cordoned off the affected area with warning tape after inspecting the damage.
Residents say annual landslide alerts from the BMC have become routine, but many continue to stay because they have no viable alternative.
Living near the damaged houses, 58-year-old Lakshmi Parab said, “Risk is not a stranger to us. Every year before the monsoon, like a ritual, the BMC informs us of the risk of landslides and asks us to shift away for the rainy months, washing their hands of any responsibility. But we continue to stay, out of desperation.”
Among those affected was 65-year-old Pushpa Yadav, whose house was completely destroyed.
“It is God’s grace that neither I nor my husband died. I was towards the back of our neighbour’s house, trying to make space for the stream of water coming from the hill to flow down so the water doesn’t add to the load. My husband was sitting on the bed, chanting,” she said.
Yadav recalled that the landslide began with a few rocks and mud falling from the hillside before intensifying.
“My husband, a rickshaw driver, is partially deaf. He didn’t hear anything. He was dragged out which saved his life,” she said.
The family has temporarily taken shelter at a neighbour’s house while waiting for assistance.
“Local leaders have promised they will build our homes back, so that’s what we’re banking on. This has been my home since 1992 when I got married, and we gradually made it into a pakka house and brought up my sons. An incident like this has never occurred before this,” Yadav added.
Following the landslide, BMC officials offered temporary accommodation at a municipal school, but many residents declined, saying they wanted permanent rehabilitation instead.
“If the authorities want us to relocate, they should provide us a proper place to live in,” Parab said.
Newly married Asmita Mayangade said her family has rented another house nearby after cracks developed in their home, but they do not intend to leave the locality permanently.
“We have rented a house opposite to this one, and we’re slowly moving our belongings. But we will continue staying here [at Parksite], and only sleep there [at the rented place] during heavy rains and if we feel the risk is extreme,” she said.
Residents have also renewed their demand for retaining walls to stabilise the hill slopes. While the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), which is responsible for constructing such protective structures, supports the proposal, limited funding has slowed implementation.
With nearly half of Mumbai’s population living in informal settlements, the city’s monsoon continues to expose the challenges of balancing safety, housing shortages and rehabilitation.
Source: The Indian Express
