Expressing serious concern over waterlogging at the civic run KEM hospital during heavy rain in the metropolis earlier this week, the Bombay High Court on Thursday, May 29, directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take immediate remedial measures to ensure that such an incident does not occur in future.
The court heard the matter following media reports highlighting patients sitting in ankle-deep water inside the hospital premises.
HC had appointed advocate Mohit Khanna as amicus curiae (friend of court) to assist with the matter.
Khanna submitted printouts of news articles and photographs showing the hospital’s pediatric department inundated with rainwater. “Report suggests water entered MRI rooms and others. It is monsoon and the situation is worsening,” said Khanna.
Rain shatters Modi’s “developed India” myth again—Mumbai’s KEM Hospital is flooded and paralyzed. While billions go to PR & statues, patients wade through sewage. So much for “Smart Cities”.#SEVENTEEN #LCDLFAlIStars pic.twitter.com/hvGIqKkF18
— Noor Fatima (@Fatima_Zahra120) May 26, 2025
A vacation bench of Justice Gauri Godse and Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan ordered the civic body to inspect the hospital immediately and suggest remedial measures.
The bench said KEM at a time used to be considered a top hospital. On a query from a vacation bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sunderesan, additional government pleader PP Kakade informed the court that the flooding occurred in a corridor due to the hospital being in a low-lying area. However, the court was unimpressed. “There has to be some solution. Hospital can’t be flooded like this,” it observed.
The court directed Kakade to take instructions from the health department and report back on measures being taken. Issuing notice to BMC, the court said, “Corporation (Officers) is expected to visit KEM and suggest remedial measures to the management of the hospital.”
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