The Bombay High Court has expressed concern over waterlogging at the state-run KEM Hospital in Parel on May 26 when Mumbai witnessed heavy rainfall. The High Court on Thursday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to urgently inspect the hospital and suggest remedial measures. The court also sought an affidavit from the state government on measures to be taken by the next hearing on June 16.

The Bombay High Court heard the matter after media reports highlighted patients sitting in ankle-deep water inside the hospital premises and videos of the same surfacing on social media. A division bench comprising Justice Gauri Godse and Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation urgently mentioned by advocate Mohit Khanna, who cited newspaper reports highlighting the flooding at KEM Hospital.

“This is a hospital. There has to be hygiene. Management cannot allow this to happen inside hospital premises. This cannot become a recurring situation. KEM was once among the top hospitals in India. The State must act—BMC will only respond if the State shows interest,” the bench observed.

Waterlogging at KEM Hospital

Heavy rainfall led to severe disruption across Mumbai on May 26 affecting critical infrastructure. KEM Hospital’s ground floor, including the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) was flooded, raising serious concerns for patient safety and hospital operations.

The downpour began on Sunday night due to the early onset of the southwest monsoon, arriving nearly ten days ahead of schedule. By Monday morning, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds reaching speeds of 60 kmph had battered the city.

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Heavy rain in Mumbai led to severe waterlogging at KEM Hospital, with water entering the ground floor. The affected area includes the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), causing major inconvenience and concern for patients and hospital staff. pic.twitter.com/6Ok2WTWbQd

— IANS (@ians_india) May 26, 2025

News articles and photographs of flooded KEM produced in court

On Thursday, advocate Mohit Khanna, appointed as amicus curiae (friend of court) to assist with the matter, 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.

He referred to a previous order dated December 14, 2024, which indicated that the court was monitoring healthcare infrastructure across Maharashtra, starting with select hospitals and expanding thereafter.

Additional Government Pleader Priyabhushan P Kakade for the state government, on instructions from the assistant dean of KEM Hospital, who was present in the court, submitted that it did not face such a situation due to flood water, and it intended to take remedial measures to avoid such incidents in future.

He also submitted that he will place on record the proposed action to be taken on behalf of the state health department to avoid such incidents henceforth.