2 min readNew DelhiJun 18, 2026 05:03 PM IST
First published on: Jun 18, 2026 at 05:03 PM IST
Distressing images going viral on social media show dozens of people sleeping along the shores of Mumbai’s Versova Beach, sparking debate about housing, migration, poverty, and the use of public spaces in the city.
The images, shared on X, show crowds sleeping on the sand under the open sky. Most of those seen in the photographs appear to be men.
According to the caption accompanying the post, residents of slum settlements near the Versova coastline spend their nights on the beach to escape intense heat and frequent power outages, returning home the following morning.
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A few days earlier, a video showing a similar scene had also gone viral, suggesting that this is not a one-off occurrence but a practice that has been continuing for some time.
The glimpses from the beach have gone viral, and many took to the comments section to share their reactions. One user wrote, “Problem of overpopulation in Mumbai. Other states are Zombieland, where no one wants to go. Why nobody wants to talk about this..”
Another user commented, “Mumbai’s Luxury life… we’re really a 3rd world country, can’t produce enough power for ourselves in 2026.” A third person added that the beach was cleaned by a volunteer. “That’s why they are able to sleep here, otherwise it was riddled with decades of filth and trash.”
A fourth individual wrote, “This looks more like a camping site at the refugee centre. If in these times of progress and technology, we are also having power outages, can we call ourselves developed?”
Residents of slum settlements near the Versova coastline spend their nights on the beach to escape intense heat and frequent power outages 
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