Weathering the Storm: Life and Work During Mumbai's Monsoon - Vol 2
June 23rd, 2025
Monsoons in Mumbai are no joke! The torrential downpours can last for days, with brief dry spells in between. But don't expect a break from the heat—it's still hot and intensely humid. Yet, Mumbaikars (as people who live in Mumbai are called) take it all in stride.
Traveling during the monsoon, especially in packed trains, can be a miserable experience. Thankfully, because MarketPlace's model is based on neighborhood cooperatives, most artisans don't have to commute far for work.
Flooding, however, remains the biggest challenge. Many slum communities are located in low-lying areas with poor drainage. It's not uncommon for artisans' homes to have several inches of standing water for days. Roads flood easily, and traffic grinds to a halt.
Despite the chaos, the Mumbai Local trains keep the city moving. Spanning 450 kilometers, they operate 2,342 trains 20 hours a day, transporting over 6.5 million people. It's the world's busiest and Asia's oldest rail system—truly the lifeline of the city.
In the past, monsoon season was fairly predictable, starting in mid-June and wrapping up by mid-September. But with climate change, that's shifting. This year, the rains began in late May, and last year they dragged on until mid-October.
Through it all, life in Mumbai moves forward—with resilience, community, and an incredible ability to adapt.
• Have you experienced a shift in weather patterns where you live? How has it affected your daily life?
• How do you prepare for extreme weather events in your area—be it snow, hurricanes, heatwaves, or heavy rains?
• What changes have you noticed in the seasons over the past few years?
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