Mumbai floods submerge celebrity homes after heavy rains

Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, and Rani Mukerji among stars hit by flooding

Torrential rains triggered severe urban flooding in Mumbai this week, submerging streets, halting traffic, and leaving even the city’s most upscale neighborhoods underwater—including the luxury residences of Bollywood’s biggest stars.

According to Indian media reports, heavy downpours began on August 19 and continued intermittently for two days. Within just a few hours, the intense rainfall inundated large parts of the city, disrupting daily life.

The urban flooding not only swamped slums and low-income neighborhoods but also engulfed billion-rupee bungalows in some of Mumbai’s most expensive localities.

Transport came to a standstill, with cars stranded on submerged roads. Offices and schools were closed, while power and communication services collapsed across several districts.

Videos that quickly went viral on Indian social media showed floodwaters entering the homes of superstar Amitabh Bachchan, actor Ajay Devgn, actress Rani Mukerji, and veteran star Dharmendra, among others. Reports claimed that in some residences, water rose as high as three feet inside the compounds.

The footage sparked outrage online, with residents criticizing authorities for failing to protect even elite neighborhoods from flooding. “If this is the state of Mumbai’s wealthiest areas, what must life be like in the slums?” wrote one social media user.

Flooding after heavy monsoon rains is not new for Mumbai. In 2005, catastrophic floods nearly shut down the city, claiming hundreds of lives. Experts say the recurring crises reflect the city’s weak drainage system, rapid unplanned urbanization, and climate change impacts, which have made coastal cities like Mumbai increasingly vulnerable.

Despite repeated warnings and annual disasters, authorities have failed to implement long-term drainage and flood management projects. Urban planners warn that unchecked construction, coastal encroachment, and rising sea levels will continue to worsen flooding risks.

While local officials have once again announced emergency relief measures, residents argue that short-term fixes will not solve the underlying crisis. Without durable infrastructure, they warn, Mumbai will continue to drown each monsoon season.