Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri expressed his frustration on social media over the severe waterlogging problems that plagued Mumbai following the city’s first heavy downpour of the monsoon season. Sharing a video of waterlogged Nepean Sea Road — a posh Mumbai locality home to billionaires, ministers, and officials — Agnihotri criticized the state of urban planning and governance in India.
“Nepean Sea Road, home to India’s top billionaires, top ministers & officials chokes in one shower,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He further added, “So do Delhi, Bengaluru and other cities, year after year. India’s pathetic urbanisation is a scam wrapped in a sham. Poor ordinary citizens.. but who cares?”
Agnihotri’s post struck a chord with many social media users who shared their own disappointment over the recurring flooding issues in India’s major cities. One user commented, “Really bad,” while another pointed out, “There is zero town planning and all planning happens in isolation.” Several others echoed the call for major investments in urban infrastructure.
“If this is the condition of VIP areas, what can we expect for the rest of the country? Urban planning has become a complete joke,” one user wrote, summing up the frustration of many residents.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ for Mumbai as the southwest monsoon made its early onset on Monday — the earliest arrival over Maharashtra in 35 years. The weather department warned of extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms with lightning, and gusty winds.
The heavy rains brought Mumbai to a standstill, with widespread flooding and waterlogging in numerous neighborhoods, as videos circulated widely on social media showing the city struggling to cope with the downpour.
With the monsoon season now fully underway, questions over the city’s infrastructure and preparedness continue to grow louder, echoing the sentiments raised by Agnihotri and residents alike.
Sources By Agencies
