A dramatic video has emerged from Mumbai showing a car being swallowed by a sinkhole outside a housing complex, as heavy monsoon rains continue to batter India's financial capital. The incident occurred on Sunday in the Ghatkopar West area, where the ground suddenly caved in beneath a parked vehicle.
Authorities reported that a well existed beneath the parking spot, which had been partially covered by residents with a concrete slab. The heavy rain caused the cement to give way, plunging the car into the well. No one was inside the vehicle at the time, and no injuries were recorded.
The local civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), declined responsibility, stating that the incident took place within a private residential society compound. The BMC claimed the well was on society property and that residents had been using the concrete cover for parking. They advised the complex to implement safety measures to prevent a recurrence.
The car's owner, Dr Kiran Doshi, 67, told The Indian Express that a car washer raised the alarm. “He shouted, and I rushed to the spot. I saw the car sinking and filmed it,” he said. Residents noted the housing complex is over 80 years old, with the well covered about 40 years ago. Authorities eventually retrieved the car using a crane, nearly 12 hours after it submerged.
Mumbai has experienced incessant rain since the monsoon's arrival, causing flash floods in several areas. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued severe weather alerts, forecasting very heavy rain for Monday.
