In 2017, when urban anthropologist George Jose submitted his PhD thesis titled, Forging a Periphery: Urban transformation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Vasai-Virar was still a year away from experiencing its worst nightmare since the turn of the century. “The unprecedented growth has catalysed attention on the unpreparedness of state agencies and the inadequacy of urban amenities,” Jose had written in the introduction. He wasn’t off the mark. In July of 2018, as the MMR was hit by torrential rain—on July 10 the region received 240 mm rain—the Vasai-Nalasopara-Virar belt saw severe flooding, forcing authorities to call the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Navy, the Army and the Coast Guard along with the Railway Protection Force to carry out rescue work. Thousands were stranded, homes were submerged, and drinking water and electricity were interrupted for five days straight.

Last week, memories from that time returned to haunt the residents, after the region received an average of 160 mm rain between July 20 and 22. Social activist Milind Chavan, who we meet in Vasai West days later, says, “The gods have been kind. Imagine what would happen if we got 400 mm rain one day,” he says. “All of Vasai and Virar would drown.”