Mumbai’s drinking water reserves witnessed a significant increase after continuous rainfall over the past two days, with the combined storage of the city’s seven reservoirs reaching 61.9% of their total capacity on Wednesday.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the reservoirs received an additional nearly 60,000 million litres of water in the last 24 hours, taking the total storage to 8,95,907 million litres.

Seven reservoirs receive strong inflows

Mumbai depends on seven lakes—Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Vihar and Tulsi—for its drinking water supply. These reservoirs are located across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Nashik districts and largely rely on monsoon rainfall.

After water levels had dropped below 6% earlier this season, storage gradually recovered to around 50% in early July before inflows slowed as rainfall weakened. A fresh spell of monsoon showers this week has once again accelerated the replenishment of the reservoirs.

During the corresponding period last year, the combined water stock stood at more than 85.32% of total capacity.

Vihar and Tulsi remain full, Tansa nears overflow

Among the seven reservoirs, Vihar and Tulsi continued to remain at 100% capacity.

Tansa reached 97.96% of its storage capacity, making it one of the reservoirs closest to overflowing if rainfall continues. Modak Sagar was more than 90% full, while Bhatsa, the city’s largest source of drinking water, stood at 57.27% capacity.

Meanwhile, Middle Vaitarna recorded 53% storage, while Upper Vaitarna remained at 39% capacity.

BMC data also showed that the catchment areas received between 70 mm and 224 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours, supporting further inflows into the reservoirs.

IMD issues rain alerts for Mumbai and nearby districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai until Thursday, forecasting heavy rainfall at isolated locations along with strong winds.

The weather department said the city is likely to witness a generally cloudy sky with moderate to heavy rainfall at a few places across Mumbai and its suburbs over the next 48 hours. Gusty winds reaching 50–60 kmph are also expected during this period.

The IMD has also issued an orange alert for Thane and Palghar, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places. Nashik remains under a yellow alert until Thursday due to the possibility of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

With the monsoon remaining active over the reservoir catchment areas, officials expect Mumbai’s water storage to continue improving in the coming days.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the protest held outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday, accusing the Opposition of using students for political purposes amid the controversy over the NEET paper leak and other examination-related issues.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress leaders and workers staged the protest, raising concerns over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination leaks. The demonstration also highlighted the alleged police action against students who participated in a march to Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) a day earlier.

The protest continued until the evening before police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders. They were later released the same night.

Pradhan says Parliament discussion was offered

Responding to the protest, Mr Pradhan alleged that the Congress was attempting to create disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament by turning students into political tools. He also claimed the demonstration violated security protocols and caused inconvenience to the public.

The minister referred to remarks made by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who had earlier said he spoke with Rahul Gandhi during the protest. According to Mr Singh, the Centre agreed to hold a discussion in Parliament on the paper leak issue, but Rahul Gandhi later added another demand after that assurance.

Mr Pradhan said the government had already expressed its willingness to hold a comprehensive discussion on the issue in Parliament, but alleged that the Congress preferred political confrontation over democratic debate.

Centre reiterates commitment to students

The Education Minister said the government remains committed to discussing the NEET controversy and addressing the concerns of students and young people through Parliament.

In a post on X, Mr Pradhan said students deserve certainty, solutions and accountability rather than political confrontation. He added that the Centre remains committed to delivering reforms and answering students’ concerns while working to strengthen the examination system.

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday placed five demands before the Centre after he and several senior Congress leaders were detained during a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy.

The developments came after a day of political confrontation in the national capital, with the Opposition intensifying its protests over action taken against student demonstrators.

Rahul Gandhi demands resignations and reforms

While in detention, Rahul Gandhi released a video message outlining five demands for the government. He called for the resignations of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the controversy.

He also demanded action against police personnel accused of assaulting students during Monday’s protests and sought the withdrawal of cases registered against students.

Rahul Gandhi further asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise for the crackdown on protesters, sought a discussion on the issue in Parliament, and called for education and examination reforms at the earliest.

Congress leaders detained during protest

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police while staging a sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. They were later released in the evening.

Rahul Gandhi was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was taken to Mandir Marg police station. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited Priyanka Gandhi during her detention.

Questioning the country’s education system, Rahul Gandhi alleged that recurring examination paper leaks and rising education costs had created serious concerns for students and their families. He also said the Opposition wanted the matter to be discussed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Government accuses Congress of politicising the issue

Earlier in the day, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh met Rahul Gandhi at the protest site and held discussions for around 30 minutes.

Later, Singh alleged that Rahul Gandhi had changed his demands after the government agreed to discuss the NEET issue in Parliament, claiming the Congress leader subsequently insisted on the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Responding to the protest, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of exploiting students for political purposes. He said the government had already expressed its willingness to hold a comprehensive discussion in Parliament and alleged that the Opposition was choosing political confrontation over democratic debate.

The political confrontation is expected to continue as the Opposition presses the government over the alleged examination paper leak issue.