When the reporters asked Chief Minister Eknath Shinde about the first monsoon onslaught on Saturday, he countered them with a request not to complain but to welcome the much-awaited rains. “Let’s welcome the rains which are good for the farmers. We have been waiting for it,” he said. However, following adverse news reports and public outcry, he ventured out in the next morning’s downpour to inspect chronic flooding spots such as Milan subway and also inspected the status of coastal road in Worli.

Apparently, the CM was satisfied with the pumping system at Milan subway that he said had worked effectively even during the 70 mm rainfall the city received in an hour. He asked BMC officials to activate a similar system in other chronic flooding spots in the city. “I have personally come here to inspect the system,” he said.