India, July 7 -- From people falling into open manholes and being crushed under collapsing trees to buildings giving way, flooded roads and infrastructure failures disrupting lives, Mumbai's monsoon has once again turned everyday life into a gamble where every step feels uncertain. As the city grapples with yet another season of preventable tragedies, HT asked citizens, activists and urban experts two pertinent questions: Why is Mumbai in such a mess? And what is the one thing authorities must fix now?

Stalin Dayanand

Director, Vanashakti

Why is the city in a mess?

Stalin Dayanand believes Mumbai's recurring civic crises stem from years of poor governance, corruption and a complete lack of accountability. "The city has been treated as...