While BEST had undertaken pre-monsoon maintenance work, recent incidents suggest that several vehicles continue to face weatherproofing challenges

Mumbai: Reports of rainwater leaking into BEST buses have once again raised concerns over the maintenance and roadworthiness of the city’s public transport fleet. Commuters travelling on several routes have complained of water dripping from bus roofs, wet floors, and discomfort during journeys, prompting calls for urgent action from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) administration.BEST committee member and BJP leader Ajay Singh said inspections carried out at Oshiwara depot have already identified 22 buses with leakage-related defects, all of which have been earmarked for detailed inspection and repairs. He added that similar issues may exist at other depots and a citywide inspection drive would be undertaken, including checks at Wadala depot, to ensure buses remain fit for service during the monsoon.“The problem cannot be ignored. Commuters should not have to travel in buses with leaking roofs during rains. Necessary repairs must be carried out immediately,” Singh said.The issue comes weeks after complaints surfaced about rainwater seeping into air-conditioned buses during early June showers. In some cases, buses had to be withdrawn from service and sent back to depots for repairs. While BEST had undertaken pre-monsoon maintenance work, recent incidents suggest that several vehicles continue to face weatherproofing challenges.According to Singh, the situation is compounded by the shrinking size of BEST’s fleet. “Nearly a decade ago, BEST operated around 4,200 buses. Today the fleet is down to about 2,800 buses. With fewer buses available, every vehicle becomes critical for daily operations, making timely maintenance even more important,” he noted.Commuters have expressed frustration over the recurring problem. A resident of Lalbaug, who travelled to Mantralaya on Tuesday morning, said water entering the bus created inconvenience and safety concerns. “There was water accumulating on the floor, which could lead to passengers slipping. Some commuters even joked that they might need umbrellas inside the bus,” he said.Another regular passenger noted that leakages had been reported even during the pre-monsoon period and hoped BEST would ensure that both its owned and wet-lease buses remain dry, comfortable, and fully air-conditioned throughout the rainy season.A commuter travelling on route A-406 (Mulund–Sahar) this week also reported prominent leakages, saying passengers were significantly inconvenienced during the journey.With heavy rains expected to continue, commuters are now hoping that swift repairs and comprehensive inspections will prevent further disruptions and ensure safer, more comfortable travel across Mumbai.

For south Mumbai, this was the lowest June rainfall in the last three years.

MUMBAI: June ended with Mumbai recording significantly less rainfall than its long-period average, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a forecast for heavy to very heavy showers in the first week of July. The IMD’s Colaba observatory recorded 441.1 mm of rainfall between June 1 and 30 (81% of its normal June rainfall of 542.3 mm.) The Santacruz observatory recorded 416.4 mm, or 77% of its June normal of 537.1 mm.For south Mumbai, this was the lowest June rainfall in the last three years. Colaba had recorded 592 mm in June 2025 and 507 mm in June 2024. In the suburbs, Santacruz also received considerably less rain than the 592 mm recorded in June last year. The below-normal June rainfall doesn’t come as a surprise as the month saw a delayed start to the monsoon on June 23 which was the second most late arrival ever. It was only after the onset that, the rain deficit for the season began narrowing. In fact Mumbai was drenched by extremely heavy overnight rainfall in the first 24 hours of monsoon onset, as in the 24-hour period ending 8.30 am between June 23-24 IMD Colaba recorded 247.8 mm of rainfall and 224.8 mm at Santacruz observatory. The second significant shower came between June 28-29 when the IMD’s Santacruz observatory recorded 104 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am, the Colaba observatory in south Mumbai logged just 30.4 mm. The first major spell of monsoon showers turned tragic, when an 11-year-old student was killed after a roadside peepal tree fell on a school bus in Chembur in the afternoon. The incident occurred around 2.58pm near a building on Road No. 11. Fire Brigade and other agencies rushed to the spot and evacuated all 12 students, including two children who were trapped inside the bus.Five injured students were taken to a nearby hospital, where four were reported to be stable. However, 11-year-old Vihan Srivastava, who suffered serious injuries, was declared dead around 4.30pm. The bus was carrying students of Universal High School. The School Bus Owners’ Association raised concerns over civic preparedness and preventive maintenance, saying the incident raised questions over authorities responsible for public safety.Meanwhile IMD has issued an orange alert for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar from July 1 to 4, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places. Raigad has been placed under a red alert for July 2, indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas.”A low-pressure area is likely to form over the northwest Bay of Bengal around July 3, which is expected to trigger an active monsoon phase over central India during the week,” said the IMD.On Tuesday rainfall was recorded throughout the day with the IMD Colaba and Santacruz observatory recording 25.4 mm and 14.1 mm in the nine hours ending 5.30 pm.“The unusual rainfall pattern in June reflected the prevailing synoptic conditions during the month. The combination of weak monsoon westerlies and a persistent East–West shear zone prevented deep moisture penetration. Instead of sustained orographic rainfall, precipitation occurred mainly through localized, stationary thunderstorm cells, resulting in highly uneven rainfall distribution and leaving much of the ghat and interior belt significantly drier than normal,” said weather observer Abhijit ModakThe rainfall deficit has also reflected in the catchment areas of the seven lakes supplying Mumbai, where inflows have remained poor. As of Tuesday, the combined water stock stood at just 97666 million litres or 6.75% of total capacity as compared to 5.82 lakh million litres or 40% on the same date last year.

Mumbai: June ended with Mumbai recording significantly less rainfall than its long-period average, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a forecast for heavy to very heavy showers in the first week of July. The IMD ‘s Colaba observatory recorded 441.1 mm of rainfall between June 1 and 30 (81% of its normal June rainfall of 542.3 mm). The Santacruz observatory recorded 416.4 mm, or 77% of its June normal of 537.1 mm.Meanwhile, IMD has issued an orange alert for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar from July 1 to 4, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places. Raigad has been placed under a red alert for July 2, indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas . “A low-pressure area is likely to form over the northwest Bay of Bengal around July 3, which is expected to trigger an active monsoon phase over central India during the week ,” said the IMD.On Tuesday, rainfall was recorded throughout the day, with the IMD Colaba and Santacruz observatories recording 25.4 mm and 14.1 mm in the nine hours ending 5.30 pm.For south Mumbai, June rainfall was the lowest for the month in the past three years. Colaba recorded 592 mm in June 2025 and 507 mm in June 2024. In the suburbs, Santacruz also received considerably less rain than the 592 mm recorded in June last year. The below-normal June rainfall doesn ‘t come as a surprise as the month saw a delayed start to the monsoon on June 23, which was the second latestarrival ever. It was only after the onset that the rain deficit for the season began narrowing. In fact, Mumbai was drenched by extremely heavy overnight rainfall in the first 24 hours of monsoon onset, as in the 24-hour period ending 8.30 am between June 23-24, IMD Colaba recorded 247.8 mm of rainfall and 224.8 mm at Santacruz observatory. The second significant shower came between June 28-29 when the IMD ‘s Santacruz observatory recorded 104 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am ; the Colaba observatory in south Mumbai logged just 30.4 mm.“The unusual rainfall pattern in June reflected the prevailing synoptic conditions during the month. The combination of weak monsoon westerlies and a persistent East -West shear zone prevented deep moisture penetration. Instead of sustained orographic rainfall, precipitation occurred mainly through localised, stationary thunderstorm cells, resulting in highly uneven rainfall distribution and leaving much of the ghat and interior belt significantly drier than normal ,” said weather observer Abhijit Modak.The rainfall deficit has also reflected in the catchment areas of the seven lakes supplying Mumbai, where inflows have remained poor. As of Tuesday, the combined water stock stood at just 97,666 million litres or 6.75% of total capacity, as compared to 5.82 lakh million litres or 40% on the same date last year.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray downplayed Sachin Ahir’s defection, stating his party is unfazed by leaders leaving.

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday sought to downplay senior MLC Sachin Ahir’s defection to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, saying his party was no longer surprised by leaders leaving despite being given key positions over the years.Claiming that the latest political developments had revived talk of “Operation Tiger”, Aaditya said the operation currently underway was not “Operation Tiger” but “Operation Devendra Fadnavis.”His remarks came hours after Ahir joined the Shinde camp and filed his nomination as the Mahayuti alliance’s candidate for the post of deputy chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.Reacting to Ahir’s exit, Aaditya said Shiv Sena (UBT) had witnessed similar defections over the past four years and had continued to remain strong.“For the last four years, we have seen that even those who were close to us and received everything eventually left. So we do not consider this a shock,” he said.Referring to Ahir’s long association with the party, Aaditya questioned what more could have been offered to him, saying he had been accommodated in several important positions, including through the workers’ organisation and civic bodies.“He was brought into the ward committee through the NGO quota, his brother was given a position in the BEST committee, and he himself was entrusted with several responsibilities in the workers’ organisation. How much more could we have done?” Aaditya asked.The former Maharashtra minister also asserted that Worli would remain a Shiv Sena bastion despite Ahir’s departure.“Worli is the stronghold of Shiv Sena and it will continue to remain so. No one is shocked by people coming and going,” he said.Aaditya alleged that while “Operation Tiger” was once again being discussed after Ahir’s switch, the real political exercise underway was “Operation Devendra Fadnavis”, aimed at weakening the chief minister’s position within the BJP.“What is happening now is not ‘Operation Tiger’ but ‘Operation Devendra Fadnavis’. If a Marathi leader is emerging as a possible Prime Ministerial face, efforts are being made to clip his wings. This could be Devendra Fadnavis’ last term as chief minister, after which he may be shifted to the Union Cabinet,” Aaditya claimed.Stepping up his attack on the BJP, Aaditya alleged that the ruling party faced a major political challenge in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.“The 2029 election poses a massive challenge for the BJP. The very BJP that undertook a Rath Yatra over the Ram Mandir issue is today engaging in land theft and scams in Ayodhya. There will be a change in 2029, and the people of the country will not spare those who have committed corruption in Ayodhya and Ujjain,” he alleged.Ahir’s switch to the ruling Shiv Sena comes just days after six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs crossed over to the Eknath Shinde-led faction, dealing another political setback to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh has urged Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar to establish a study group for a long-stalled socio-economic and educational survey of the Muslim community.

MUMBAI: Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh, on Monday urged DCM Sunetra Pawar, who is also minister for minority development, to establish a study group to facilitate the long-pending survey of the Muslim community, which has remained stalled for the past 15 years, and name it after the late Ajit Pawar.In his letter to Pawar, Shaikh said that the Dr Mehmood ur Rahman Study Group, constituted by the Maharashtra government in 2013, had recommended conducting a socio-economic and educational survey of Muslims.“In 2022, the state government assigned the survey to the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and a Govt Resolution (GR) was issued on 21 September 2022. However, following a change in government, the survey was never carried out,” Shaikh said.Shaikh stated that a comprehensive assessment of the Muslim community’s living conditions, access to financial assistance, benefits received under government schemes, infrastructure, educational opportunities, and healthcare facilities would present a realistic picture of the community’s status.“It would also help the government formulate region-specific policies to bring Muslims into the mainstream of development. No comprehensive data on the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims has been compiled since the publication of the Sachar Committee Report in 2006,” remarked Shaikh.“The new study group must be named after the late Ajit Dada Pawar. He had consistently pursued issues concerning the Muslim community. Ajit Pawar’s decisive initiatives led to the establishment of the Minority Research and Training Institute (MRTI), the Minority Commissionerate, etc,” demanded Shaikh.Shaikh said that conducting the survey would provide a clearer understanding of the condition of the Muslim community.“Muslims constitute 11.54% of Maharashtra’s population, making them the second-largest religious community after Hindus. The state has 56 Muslim-majority towns. Such surveys can be conducted through outsourced agencies with limited funds and manpower, and that the government has previously conducted similar surveys for several other communities,” he added.