Nearly 500 public gardens across Mumbai are expected to reopen next week after being temporarily closed as a precaution during the recent spell of heavy monsoon rainfall. The closure had been ordered by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on July 7 following forecasts of extremely heavy rain and strong winds issued by the India Meteorological Department. The decision was taken to prevent accidents as unstable trees, broken branches and other hazards posed a risk to visitors.
Extensive restoration and safety inspections have since been carried out across the city's gardens. Fallen trees and branches have been removed by civic teams from parks as well as adjoining roads, while damaged areas have continued to be assessed. According to officials from the civic garden department, the reopening is expected to begin from Monday or by the middle of next week after it is ensured that weak trees, hanging branches and other potential dangers inside the gardens have been cleared. It has been stated that public safety will remain the primary consideration before the gates are reopened.
The precaution has been taken against the backdrop of an unusually high number of tree collapse incidents recorded during this monsoon season. Within the past two weeks, three people, including a child, were killed after trees collapsed in separate incidents across the city, while several others sustained injuries. The rise in such accidents has highlighted the challenges posed by continuous rainfall, waterlogged soil and strong winds, all of which have weakened trees and increased the risk of collapses in public spaces.
Concerns over public safety were further reinforced by an incident reported on July 6 at Lokhandwala Garden No. 2 on Regency 3rd Cross Road in Andheri West. Two elderly women were injured after a cement sheet collapsed inside the garden while a man was practising yoga nearby. Both women were taken to hospital, where their condition was later reported to be stable. The incident underscored the need for inspections of both trees and park infrastructure before public access is restored.
The scale of the monsoon's impact has also been reflected in civic complaint records. Since July 1, Mumbai has received more than 1,700 complaints related to fallen trees and branches, almost double the number reported during the corresponding period last year. The highest single-day total was recorded on July 5, when 523 tree and branch fall incidents were reported, followed by 428 incidents on July 6. The sharp rise in complaints has kept civic teams engaged in round-the-clock clearance operations as efforts continue to restore normalcy while ensuring public safety.