‘Urbanisation is a scam': Vivek Agnihotri's outburst on waterlogging in Mumbai amid heavy rain
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has expressed frustration over Mumbai's persistent waterlogging problem, criticising the state of civic infrastructure and governance, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the city experienced its highest single-day rainfall in May since 2021 and the second-highest for the month in the past decade.
Sharing a video of severe waterlogging on the posh Napean Sea Road, an area home to some of India's wealthiest people, Agnihotri questioned the state of urban planning in the country. 'Nepean Sea Road, home to India's top billionaires, top ministers & officials chokes in one shower,' he wrote.
'So do Delhi, Bengaluru and other cities, year after year. India's pathetic urbanisation is a scam wrapped in a sham. Poor ordinary citizens.. but who cares?' the filmmaker added.
See here:
Nepean Sea Road, home to India's top billionaires, top ministers & officials chokes in one shower. So do Delhi, Bengaluru and other cities, year after year. India's pathetic urbanisation is a scam wrapped in a sham. Poor ordinary citizens.. but who cares?pic.twitter.com/dHA4sshv8u
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 26, 2025
His post quickly gained traction, prompting reactions from social media users. 'India needs to spend major on city infrastructure,' a user wrote. 'There is zero town planning and all planning happens in isolation,' another user commented.
'Everyone craves for a water front property & muncipalty is bringing it to your doorstep, still people are complaining,' a third user wrote in a sarcastic comment.
Data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) automated weather stations revealed that several areas in the city received over 200 mm of rainfall between midnight on Sunday and 11.30 am on Monday.
According to the records, the highest rainfall was recorded at Nariman Point with 252 mm, followed by Byculla (E ward office) at 213 mm, Colaba at 207 mm, and Do Taki station at 202 mm. Other areas such as Marine Lines and Chandanwadi received 180 mm and Memonwada recorded 183 mm, while Worli saw 171 mm of rainfall.
The southwest monsoon arrived in Maharashtra on Sunday, just a day after reaching in Kerala, marking its earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009. Typically, the monsoon reaches Kerala by June 1 and Mumbai around June 11 and covers the entire country by July 8. The withdrawal process begins from northwest India around September 17 and is usually complete by October 15.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
42 minutes ago
- News18
When A Maharani Regally Reminds About Real Vs Reel Royals
Last Updated: Radhikaraje Gaekwad's wry but succinct observations about real vs reel royals point to a common flaw: lack of domain knowledge about them The Royals, the Netflix version, that is, has elicited an elegant and timely repartee from a 'real' maharani about what bona fide royals were and are. Radhikaraje Gaekwad, wife of the 'Maharaja' of the erstwhile princely state of Baroda (and daughter of a 'maharajkumar' of Wankaner) ended her riposte with, 'Yet after all these decades, our country continues to view us—all 565 families and a few thousand nobility—with an odd mixture of awe, ignorance and distaste." Spot on! Indeed, the only redeeming feature of Netflix's version of royals is Ishan Khattar as Aviraaj Singh, 'Maharaja' of the fictional Morpur. Even his nickname Fizzy is what seasoned royal watchers might consider a clever inclusion because it not only encapsulates his effervescent on-screen persona but also harks back to 'Bubbles', the late Maharaja of Jaipur Brigadier Bhawani Singh, whose flamboyant young grandson Padmanabh ('Pacho') Singh is the current 'ruler'. But the rest of the series is a mishmash of what Bollywood thinks the lives of Indian royals are—or were. It's as if the writer(s) pored over back-issues of Hello! and Marwar to cobble together a storyline for a couture and interiors promo. Sadly, while it was filmed in 'real' palaces, The Royals' clothes, ceremonial or while partying (apparently their sole occupation) were hardly aristocratic—Abu-Sandeep at best. And SoBo English did not make them to the mahal born. Even so, this series offers a good reason to take a proper look at the progress of Indian royalty in democratic India in the past eight decades. Cinema in socialist India immortalised the trope of wicked, licentious feudal rajas, taluqdars and zamindars living off the sweat and tears of their suffering praja (subjects), taking advantage of poor women and spending lavish amounts on hunting, gambling, alcohol and any other debauched habit that screenwriters could conjure up. Now, with being rich becoming cool again in post-socialist, liberalised India, feudal scions are shown in fast cars with arm candy or flaunting gowns and jewels, albeit more in society and fashion magazines rather than on the silver screen. One point that the Netflix series gets right—but only superficially—is that many an Indian royal family is on skid row, and live sham lives of grandeur. Unfortunately, the plot is too thin to present a credible picture of their existential dilemma. For the uninitiated, despite India no longer recognising royal titles they flourish in private and tourist circles, especially in the latter as they validate 'royal hospitality' premium rates. Radhikaraje has painted a very saintly picture of our princely states' life under the British and then their accession to independent Bharat that Sardar Patel may have a few quibbles about, but overall she makes a valid point: they all work hard now, not rest on their, well, crown jewels. So, the life portrayed in The Royals is not true-to-life, even if it isn't meant to be a documentary, but a rom(p)-com about a playboy prince and a self-made hospitality industry diva. Even so, a modicum of understanding of royal protocol and relationships beyond 'khama-gani' and 'hukum', gaudily embellished mahals, bowing and scraping mustachioed-and-turbaned retainers, not to mention polo matches, racing cars and fashion shows, would have been welcome. Indian royals foraying into the hospitality sector with their palaces (in varying stages of grandeur and decay) leveraging the aura of their glittery past was a story that began in earnest soon after liberalisation. Three decades on, there is hardly a fort, palace, shikargah, haveli, villa or even cottage with royal links that have not become hotels, some with the former feudal owners still in residence, but most with professional managements who adroitly heighten the 'royal" experience. So the plot of The Royals—a hospitality professional seeks to turn a princely pile into a hotel where 'commoners" can have a taste of regal life in the midst of actual royals—is hardly new or earth-shattering. Equally clichéd is young Fizzy Morpur swanning around New York having affairs or modelling bare chested in some sunny and sandy locale. While some may think they know who Khattar's Aviraaj is based on, rich and reckless playboy princes simply don't exist anymore. Heirs to one-pistol salute 'states' like Morpur could not afford such layabout lives. Most scions of actual former princely states have pretty mundane day jobs now—tourism, marketing, politics—even if they do get to trot out the family regalia, swords and horse-drawn carriages for marriages and funerals. Very unlike a century ago when Indian 'rulers" (real power was mostly vested in the hands of their official British 'residents') and their excesses were the stuff of legend. From the late 19th century till 1947, the world's top couturiers, jewellers, vintners and carmakers beat a path to their palace doors to seek their custom. Though these rulers were cleverly called 'princes' and only had 'HH' or His Highness prefixed to their names rather than His Majesty—thereby keeping them below the British Royal Family and other European monarchies in the blue-blooded pecking order—maharajas paid a king's ransom to procure the world's finest goods. Today, our de-recognised royals are at best brand ambassadors for the world's top labels. They are not sitting in the front rows of international fashion shows as coveted customers, they are more likely to auction their baubles than bid for some at Christie's, and they are no longer the world's biggest buyers of premier cru wines and vintage champagnes. Many of them do still, however, wear their inherited gem-studded kalgis, necklaces and bracelets with rare elegance. That regal elegance is hard to replicate, and The Royals fails miserably on that count, no matter how reputed their stylist/costume designer. No maharani worth her French chiffons and graded Basra pearls today would wear what The Royals' widowed queen and queen mother do. Radhikaraje, always a picture of elan in traditional weaves, is not the only one who cringed royally. Only the royal brothers Aviraaj and Digvijay in their side-strapped trousers looked authentic. A more ineffable yet crucial aspect of real royals is their protocol and bearing, which is not about swagger or walking around stiff-necked. Anyone who knows Indian royals would vouch that most of them have an innate old-world grace and courtesy—a sadly misunderstood word these days. There's something about their carriage and manners that sets most of them apart. Caricaturing is easier than accurate portrayal and The Royals' writers, unfortunately, get neither right. For anyone familiar with the protocol of India's royals, especially Rajputs from Rajasthan and affiliated families, the consistent use of the word 'Maharaj-ji' to refer to Aviraaj and his father is especially jarring. In royalspeak, the titleholder is Maharaja. Maharaj (without the 'a') is what all the younger brothers of the king are called, short for Maharajkumar. So The Royals' Digvijay is Maharaj(kumar) while Aviraaj is Maharaja. And his mother would be Rajmata, not Rani-sa. Maharaja, Maharani, Maharajkumar, Maharajkumari, Raja, Rani, Yuvraj, Yuvrani, Rajkumar, Rajkumari, Baijilal, Rao Raja, Rao Rani, Kanwar, Bhanwar, Pattayet, Pattayet Rani, Tikka Raja, Bapji, Shriji and more—royal prefixes and honorifics are varied, but very specific and hierarchical. Even though none of these titles are officially recognised anymore, they are actually an article of faith in royal circles and cannot be used at will interchangeably or bandied about. Earlier films on Indian royals delved into 'history": Jodha-Akbar, Bajirao Mastani etc. Only Zubeida, Khalid Mohammed's take on his mother, Jodhpur Maharaja Hanwant Singh's second wife, was on a recent person. Manoj Bajpai as Hanwant was more Hindi heartland than Rajputana, but Karishma Kapoor as a Gayatri-Devi-like Zubeida and Rekha as the older first wife looked and sounded more authentic than Sakshi Tanwar and Zeenat Aman as Aviraaj's mother and grandma. top videos View all In Zubeida's case, Khalid Mohammed's personal knowledge perhaps ensured a higher degree of authenticity at least in the appearance and manner of the royal protagonists, even if the script deviated often from what really happened. The Royals is totally a fictitious tale and hence should have been far easier to conceptualise. But the obvious lack of domain knowledge on a small but well-defined segment—Indian royalty and nobility—makes Maharani Radhikaraje's words ring so true. The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : Bhumi Pednekar Ishan Khattar Netflix The Royals Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 05, 2025, 14:14 IST News opinion Opinion | When A Maharani Regally Reminds About Real Vs Reel Royals
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Meet Vanshika, Kuldeep Yadav's childhood friend-turned-fiancée
Team India's star spinner Kuldeep Yadav recently got engaged to his childhood friend Vanshika in a private ceremony in Lucknow, and fans are now eager to know more about the woman who has been by his side through the years. The engagement, held on Wednesday, was an intimate affair attended by close family and friends. Among those present were fellow Uttar Pradesh cricketers, including India and Kolkata Knight Riders batter Rinku Singh, who was accompanied by his fiancée and Member of Parliament, Priya Saroj. Born and brought up in Shyam Nagar, a locality in Lucknow, Vanshika is a non-celebrity who works with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Despite staying away from the limelight, her steady presence in Kuldeep's life has been deeply significant. The couple's relationship dates back to their childhood days in Kanpur, where they first met. Their bond, rooted in years of friendship, gradually evolved into a romantic relationship and eventually led to their recent engagement. The ceremony itself reflected the couple's private nature. Kuldeep looked dapper in a cream-coloured embroidered sherwani, while Vanshika stunned in a bright orange lehenga. The two exchanged rings in the presence of close loved ones, marking a special personal milestone for the cricketer. Although there has been no official announcement from the couple on social media, pictures from the function have gone viral, with fans flooding the internet with congratulatory messages. While the wedding was initially planned for June 29, it has reportedly been postponed due to Kuldeep's commitments with the Indian team's upcoming tour of England. A new date has not been confirmed yet, but the wedding is expected to take place later this year. On the professional front, the 30-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner recently featured for the Delhi Capitals in the 2025 Indian Premier League. He impressed with the ball, taking 15 wickets in 14 matches at an economy rate of 7.07. His performance played a key part in helping DC finish fifth in the points table, with seven wins. Kuldeep continues to be a vital part of India's bowling line-up across all formats. He was instrumental in India's triumphs at both the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Since his international debut in 2017, he has built a solid record, claiming 181 wickets in 113 ODIs, 69 wickets in 40 T20Is, and 56 wickets in 13 Test matches
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Want to buy Nintendo Switch 2 in India? This is how much you could have to pay
A customer purchases Nintendo Switch 2 at an electronics retailer in Tokyo, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Nintendo Switch 2 will be available in India from June 8, despite Nintendo's lack of official presence in the country, with pricing ranging between Rs. 58,000 to Rs. 65,000 across different cities and retailers, per to 0451 Games newsletter, . In the US, the Switch 2 comes at a retail price of $499, i.e. Rs ~42,000. Despite the marked up price, the Switch 2 won't be available in day-one in India. According to report, attributing to the supply chain sources, day-one availability will be limited in India, but stock should flow freely from next week. The delay is attributed to holidays in key markets like the UAE, from which substantial portions of Indian stock are expected. Why the Nintendo Switch 2 costs so much more in India The significantly higher pricing, well above earlier estimates of Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000, per the report, stems from Nintendo's delayed certification process in the Middle East region. While the console has been sold in Middle Eastern markets for over a week, Indian parallel importers are sourcing stock from the US and Europe at marked-up rates, according to the report. "Prices should normalise by August or October latest, when the Switch 2 is out in more countries," said one Mumbai-based store owner told 0451 Games. "But if you want it month one, forget day one, you'll be paying more because we are paying more." Retailers report paying approximately EUR 500 (around Rs. 50,000) plus 15-20 percent markup for the Mario Kart World bundle , which comprises over 80 percent of expected Indian stock due to standard console shortages. The new Mario Kart World game will be available alongside the console launch, which will also come at 15-20% mark up. Meanwhile, third-party Switch 2 games like Hogwarts Legacy are releasing officially in India on schedule, creating an unusual scenario where software arrives before hardware through official channels. Nintendo's India plans still unclear Despite the thriving parallel import market, the report says that sources familiar with Nintendo's plans indicate the company is considering establishing an official Indian presence, potentially partnering with distributor Redington. However, no timeline has been confirmed for this move. The situation mirrors Nintendo's historical approach with previous consoles like the Wii and original Switch, where parallel imports consistently filled demand gaps in emerging markets. Nintendo's focus remains primarily on the US, Europe, and Japan, treating other regions as secondary priorities. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
