The rainy season is the most awaited season in Mumbai, but along with it come various problems. Heavy rains are very common in Mumbai. It impacts various businesses, infrastructure, and people. The supply chain gets affected, and various different industries suffer losses due to this. It gets very difficult to travel to and from Mumbai.

Many parts of the city are inundated with water due to flooding caused by rain. The reasons why Mumbai still faces problems due to rains are the outdated drainage system, climate change, and urbanization.

A statement by a high official said, ” The flooding has not been caused by raining but by bad planning.”

How heavy rains affect operations?

• Heavy rains in India often lead to the closing of most operations except emergency services.
• Rainfall in Mumbai also disrupts transportation and travel.
• Railways, buses, road transport, air traffic, and public life is disrupted.
• There is infrastructural damage.
• Many people are rendered homeless due to excessive flooding caused by rain.
  A recent example is the havoc that was created in Mumbai due to heavy rains; it caused a wall to collapse, causing the deaths of 30 people, and thousands of commuters were stuck in local trains till late at night. An aircraft skidded off, which led to disruptions in about 200 flights for an entire week.

Effects of rains on business

According to the United Nations, India suffers a loss of US $7 billion each year due to heavy rains that result in flooding. The 6th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report estimates Mumbai will face damages of up to USD 49–50 billion annually by 2050 due to sea level rise.

Research also shows that abnormal rains affect 70% of businesses worldwide. Smaller businesses are more likely to be affected.

Heavy rains cause transportation obstructions and can flood buildings. It also impacts delivery, people, data centers, and supply chains.

It is challenging to run your business and serve your customers without an adequate power supply. Floods can impact the power supply for days or even weeks, depending on their severity.

Most of Mumbai’s industrial and commercial establishments are also in these flood-prone areas. This will hinder physical access for over 65% of the city’s formal workforce and, as is seen every year, leaving thousands stranded away from their homes as the trains stop working.

away from their homes as the trains stop working.

How business should cope with rainy season

In situations like this, the most important thing is how fast businesses respond to this. A company that is able to react more quickly to unforeseen conditions has a strategic advantage over its competitors.

• Immediately taking action as soon as there is an alert of heavy rain or possible flooding can help avoid power outages. You can activate your emergency plan   to mitigate the damage. You need to have a plan for all the crises beforehand. Choosing the course of action after the advisory/alert is out would be too late. 
• You can avoid delivery delays and ensure employee safety by monitoring the risks of flooding on the route. Alert the drivers so that they can change their course accordingly.
• Have a good communication plan and test it regularly. Make sure you are able to communicate with the employees during and after the event.

It is challenging to run your business and serve your customers without an adequate power supply. Floods can impact the power supply for days or even weeks, depending on their severity.  

Most of Mumbai’s industrial and commercial establishments are also in these flood prone areas. This will hinder physical access for over 65% of the city’s formal workforce, and as is seen every year, leave thousands stranded away from their homes as the trains stop working.