If you live in Mumbai and have kids, you know that rainy season is not just about cute rain boots and jumping in puddles. It is also about major floods that can throw off your whole family's schedule! And this year, because of La Niña, parents in Mumbai need to be even more ready for what is to come.
What Does This La Niña Thing Mean?
La Niña is a weather trend that makes the Pacific Ocean cooler. This may sound far away from Mumbai, but it has a direct effect on our summer rains. The good news? India normally gets more rain than usual during La Niña. The bad news? In Mumbai, that usually means heavy rains that make our already-stressed sewage systems fail.
During the rainy season of 2025, Mumbai got 20% more rain than usual, and places like Aarey in the suburbs got even more. Remember how crazy it was in August when it rained over 800 mm in just four days? That is the level of passion we are talking about!
Why does Mumbai flood so badly when kids are around?
Being stuck with your kids during the floods in Mumbai is the scariest thing that can happen to a parent. We can be better ready, though, if we know why it happens. It should only rain 55 mm an hour in our city, but climate change and La Niña are dumping 400 mm or more in just one day!
Heavy rain and high tide often happen at the same time, and the sea stops the water from flowing out naturally. Some places, like Sion, Kurla, Andheri, and parts of the Mithi River, get water up to the hips. For parents whose kids take local trains to get to and from school, service interruptions and crowded stations full of stuck commuters are a headache.
What It Really Means for Families in Mumbai
Let us talk about what this means for you as a parent. It is hard to think what would have happened if your kids were on that stopped train in August of last year. Daycares and schools close, and all of a sudden you have to work from home and keep your kids busy when they cannot go outside.
When it rains a lot, health worries grow. When it rains a lot, mosquitoes can lay their eggs, which raises the risk of dengue and malaria. Toxic floodwater can give kids stomach diseases, skin problems, and breathing problems. And let us not talk about how hard it is to keep babies away from dirty puddles where they really want to play!
Tips for Parents in Mumbai on How to Stay Safe
Here's what you need to get through rainy season with kids:
Before it rains, make sure you have all the drugs you need on hand, keep emergency contacts close by, protect your kids' school bags, and buy good raincoats and boots. Put together a "monsoon disaster box" with flashlights, dry snacks, drinking water, and fun things for the kids to do.
When it rains a lot, you should not take your kids on trips unless you have to. If you have to go outside, stay away from flooded roads, bridges, and places close to the Mithi River. Kids should stay away from manholes and open drains because they are very dangerous and cannot be seen when it floods.
Health Warnings: Make sure kids only drink hot or filtered water, wash their hands often, use bug spray, and keep an eye out for fevers, stomachaches, or spots that do not seem normal. Kids should not play in or near water that does not move.
The Bright Side
Even though there are problems, La Niña's extra rain helps fill up our water reserves, which is important for Mumbai's year-round water supply. Teaching kids about this link between weather trends and everyday life makes them smarter and stronger.
Being ready for the rainy season is not just for ease of mind; it is also to keep your kids safe and healthy while Mumbai deals with La Niña's stronger rains!
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Mumbai Monsoon Safety for Kids
Q1: How does La Niña specifically affect Mumbai's monsoon and flooding?
La Niña typically brings above-average rainfall to India. Mumbai received 20% more rain than average in 2025, with intense downpours (800mm+ in four days) that overwhelm drainage systems, causing severe urban flooding.
Q2: Which Mumbai areas are most dangerous for children during monsoon flooding?
Sion, Kurla, Andheri subways, areas along Mithi River, Hindmata, low-lying neighborhoods, and zones near railway tracks. These areas experience waist-deep water and should be avoided with kids during heavy rains.
Q3: What health risks do children face during Mumbai's monsoon flooding?
Increased mosquito-borne diseases (dengue, malaria), waterborne infections from contaminated floodwater, skin infections, respiratory issues, stomach infections, and risk of accidents from hidden manholes or drains.
Q4: Should I send my kids to school during red alert monsoon warnings?
No! During red alerts, schools typically close. Even if open, avoid sending kids as travel becomes dangerous, local trains get suspended, and waterlogging can strand children away from home for hours.
Q5: How can I keep children entertained indoors during extended monsoon lockdowns?
Stock board games, books, art supplies, indoor activity kits, educational apps, and plan movie marathons. Create a monsoon emergency entertainment box specifically for rain-bound days.
Q6: What should be in my monsoon emergency kit for kids?
Dry snacks, bottled water, medicines (fever, stomach issues), first aid kit, flashlights with batteries, portable phone charger, rain gear, extra clothes, mosquito repellent, and child-friendly entertainment items.
Q7: How do I explain flooding and La Niña to my children without scaring them?
Use simple terms: 'La Niña brings extra rain that sometimes makes too much water for our drains to handle.' Focus on preparedness as an adventure rather than danger, and emphasize safety rules positively.
Q8: Is it safe for children to play in rainwater or puddles during Mumbai monsoons?
Absolutely not during flooding! Floodwater contains sewage, chemicals, and hidden dangers like open manholes. Clean rainwater in controlled home settings might be okay, but Mumbai's urban flooding is hazardous.
Q9: What monsoon-related symptoms in children require immediate medical attention?
High fever lasting more than 2 days, severe stomach pain or persistent vomiting, signs of dehydration, difficulty breathing, unusual rashes, extreme fatigue, or any injury from contaminated water.
Q10: How can Mumbai parents prepare for next year's La Niña-influenced monsoon?
Monitor weather forecasts, waterproof homes, invest in proper rain gear, stock emergency supplies early, identify safe routes and nearby shelters, teach kids water safety rules, and join neighborhood preparedness groups.
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