Versova Beach becomes night refuge for Mumbai families battling heat, power cuts
A viral video showing dozens of people sleeping overnight on Mumbai’s Versova Beach has triggered debate over housing conditions, migration pressures and the growing use of public spaces as makeshift shelters in India’s financial capital.
The footage shows families from nearby informal settlements laying mats across the sand and spending the night under the open sky as they attempt to escape intense heat and frequent power outages. Residents return to their homes after sunrise.
According to the video, shared by a citizen journalist, hundreds of people including men, women and children were seen resting along sections of the beach, effectively turning parts of the shoreline into an open-air sleeping area.
The incident comes amid similar reports from nearby areas such as Mira-Bhayandar, where migrant workers were also found sleeping outdoors at the Anand Dighe Ground in Bhayandar East due to similar conditions.
Local political workers from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) visited the site after noticing large gatherings.
Party representatives, led by city president Sandeep Rane, said they spoke to residents of nearby settlements, including Indira Nagar, who cited heat and electricity disruptions as the main reasons for sleeping outdoors.
