Landslide Destroys Homes in Vikhroli Parksite Amid Heavy Mumbai Rains
A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall destroyed several informal stilt homes in the Parksite neighborhood of Vikhroli, Mumbai, on Sunday, July 5, 2026. While no casualties were reported in the incident, the landslide reduced multiple houses to rubble and highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by hillock residents who refuse to relocate despite annual evacuation warnings.
Mud and rocks came crashing down the slope of the hillock, completely crushing the home of 65-year-old Pushpa Yadav. Yadav, who has lived in the area since 1992, was trying to clear a stream of water behind a neighbor's house when the slide began. Her husband, a partially deaf rickshaw driver, was sitting inside but was dragged to safety just as the structure collapsed.
Following the disaster, authorities visited the site to assess the damage and cordoned off the affected area with danger tape. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) offered the displaced families temporary shelter at a local BMC school, but residents refused the offer, demanding a proper permanent relocation site instead.
Many residents continue to live in the landslide-prone area out of desperation and long-term attachment to their homes. Lakshmi Parab, a 58-year-old resident, noted that the BMC issues landslide risk alerts every monsoon "like a ritual," but families feel they have nowhere else to go. During heavy rains, some residents temporarily sleep at relatives' homes or rent nearby rooms, returning to their properties during the day.
The Yadav family, whose home was reduced to pulp, stayed with their eldest son in rented housing for two days before returning to Parksite to shelter with a neighbor. Local leaders have reportedly promised to help rebuild their destroyed homes.
To prevent future disasters, Parksite residents have been pushing for the construction of retaining walls to stabilize the slopes. While the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is authorized to build these walls and supports the initiative, progress remains limited due to scarce funding.
