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BMC plans early-warning flood-detection system
Sameer Surve | Nov 02, 2025, 04:00 IST
System will continuously track water levels and rainfall intensity, transmitting live data to a central control room and giving the civic body a head start before streets turn into streams
The BMC has rolled out a real-time rainwater and flood-monitoring network across Mumbai’s most waterlogged zones, subways and holding ponds. The system, powered by Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, is designed to provide early warnings, giving the civic body a crucial head start before streets turn into streams.
The network of sensors will continuously track water levels and rainfall intensity, transmitting live data to a central control room. “Unlike CCTV monitoring, which only gives visuals, this system automatically triggers an alert when water levels cross the danger mark,” a civic official said. “It will help us take timely action and mobilise machinery before flooding worsens,” he said
386 flood-prone spots
Before this monsoon, the BMC had identified 386 chronic flooding spots across the city. Another 40 were added to the list after this year’s heavy downpours. Until now, civic teams relied mainly on CCTV cameras and manual reporting to track waterlogging. But officials admit it was impossible to monitor every vulnerable location simultaneously.
Now, with the LiDAR setup, the system will detect the exact depth of accumulated water by measuring the laser’s reflection from the road surface and the water’s surface, giving a precise, real-time reading. The same sensors will also capture rainfall intensity by analysing light reflected off raindrops.
The experiment will begin at six vehicular subways in the western and eastern suburbs – notorious for going under during the monsoon – along with nearby holding ponds. The idea, officials said, is to ensure early response and faster drainage at these critical choke points.
This new network builds on the automatic rain gauges that the BMC began installing in 2022. The upgraded system adds a layer of machine-driven precision and IoT connectivity, allowing for real-time dashboards, alerts, and predictive planning.
Civic engineers believe the system could eventually evolve into a citywide grid that predicts and prevents flooding with data-driven accuracy. “This is about shifting from reactive to predictive flood management. It’s the kind of urban resilience Mumbai needs as climate change makes rains more erratic and intense,” an official said.
If successful, the model could serve as a blueprint for other coastal cities battling the same monsoon menace – proving that technology, when smartly deployed, can help Mumbai stay a step ahead of the storm.
The network of sensors will continuously track water levels and rainfall intensity, transmitting live data to a central control room. “Unlike CCTV monitoring, which only gives visuals, this system automatically triggers an alert when water levels cross the danger mark,” a civic official said. “It will help us take timely action and mobilise machinery before flooding worsens,” he said
386 flood-prone spots
Before this monsoon, the BMC had identified 386 chronic flooding spots across the city. Another 40 were added to the list after this year’s heavy downpours. Until now, civic teams relied mainly on CCTV cameras and manual reporting to track waterlogging. But officials admit it was impossible to monitor every vulnerable location simultaneously.
Now, with the LiDAR setup, the system will detect the exact depth of accumulated water by measuring the laser’s reflection from the road surface and the water’s surface, giving a precise, real-time reading. The same sensors will also capture rainfall intensity by analysing light reflected off raindrops.
The experiment will begin at six vehicular subways in the western and eastern suburbs – notorious for going under during the monsoon – along with nearby holding ponds. The idea, officials said, is to ensure early response and faster drainage at these critical choke points.
This new network builds on the automatic rain gauges that the BMC began installing in 2022. The upgraded system adds a layer of machine-driven precision and IoT connectivity, allowing for real-time dashboards, alerts, and predictive planning.
Civic engineers believe the system could eventually evolve into a citywide grid that predicts and prevents flooding with data-driven accuracy. “This is about shifting from reactive to predictive flood management. It’s the kind of urban resilience Mumbai needs as climate change makes rains more erratic and intense,” an official said.
If successful, the model could serve as a blueprint for other coastal cities battling the same monsoon menace – proving that technology, when smartly deployed, can help Mumbai stay a step ahead of the storm.
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