Mumbai: A relentless monsoon onslaught has thrown Maharashtra into absolute chaos. Torrential downpours have triggered flooding, fatal structural collapses, and severe landslides across the state.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several key regions, prompting administrations to shut down schools and issue strict stay-at-home advisories. From local train delays paralysing Mumbai’s working class to massive landslides completely shutting down the vital Mumbai-Pune and Mumbai-Goa corridors, the state is facing one of its toughest weather crises this season.
The heavy rainfall has tragically turned fatal across multiple districts, resulting in a rising death toll due to structural collapses and uprooted trees. In Mankhurd, an eastern suburb in Mumbai, a devastating tragedy occurred when a three-story residential building collapsed in a chawl, instantly killing a woman and five children. One individual remains critically injured. In Kurla and Goregaon, falling tree branches claimed two more lives in separate incidents.
In Navi Mumbai and Panvel, persistent heavy downpours led to four additional storm-related deaths. In the Tathawade Ghat along the Phaltan-Pusegaon road in Satara district, a loosened boulder crashed through the windshield of a car returning from a pilgrimage. The driver, identified as Yogesh Popat Jagtap from Baramati, died on the spot after losing control of the vehicle.
The arterial road network connecting Mumbai to the rest of the state has virtually collapsed due to landslides, overflowing rivers, and falling debris. The newly inaugurated Mumbai-Pune ‘Missing Link’ has suffered structural failure. A massive concrete slab collapsed at its entry point near Lonavala, sending a violent torrent of mud and mountain debris onto the highway. Highway police have completely halted traffic at the Urse toll plaza.
In the wake of devastating rains with gusty winds, the state emergency centre and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) have announced the closure of key roads and highways including Mumbai-Pune Expressway (Fully Closed), Old Mumbai-Pune Highway (Fully Closed), Mumbai-Goa Highway (Blocked at Chiplun Khavati due to a massive landslide), Mumbai-Goa Highway (Blocked at Sukeli Khind in Raigad), Pen-Khopoli Route in Raigad (Submerged under water), Mangaon-Pali Route and Mangaon-Pune Tamhini Ghat Road. Near the Parshuram Ghat, on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, loose soil and massive boulders above the Omega Hotel have begun sliding onto the tarmac, threatening an imminent and total collapse of the cliffside. Vehicles have been stranded in 10-to-12-hour-long traffic jams.
The heavy rain severely disrupted Mumbai’s lifeline on Monday morning, heavily impacting officegoers at the start of the workweek. Tracks have been submerged in several low-lying areas, including Vasai, Nalasopara, and Vikhroli. At Nalasopara station, water completely covered all four lines, forcing local trains to operate at highly restricted, cautious speeds. On Western Railway, trains were running 20 to 25 minutes late, on Central Railway 15 to 20 minutes and on Harbour Line 10 minutes.
Furthermore, a major landslide occurred in the Thakurwadi area along the Pune-Mumbai railway line, shutting down rail connectivity between the two major cities. Boulders have also blocked the tracks between Karjat and Lonavala, forcing the railways to cancel or divert multiple long-distance trains.
The state administration is on high alert as the IMD predicts the heavy spell will continue through Tuesday.
The red alert has been enforced across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. Out of caution for student safety, schools have been closed in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and several other districts. The IMD has issued an orange alert for Nashik district, with heavy downpours expected in the ghat sections and in the Vidarbha Region, comprising districts including Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli, which are bracing for heavy rain accompanied by severe thunderstorms and lightning.
In Raigad district, rivers are raging. The Savitri River has breached its danger level, flooding the markets of Mahad city and drowning surrounding agricultural fields. Similarly, the Patalganga and Bhogavati rivers have overflowed, causing widespread flooding in the Khopoli area, where local food malls along the expressway are completely waterlogged.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that he has thoroughly reviewed the situation in the landslide-hit ghat sections. “Our teams are fully deployed on the ground to clear the tracks and roads. I have directed officials from both Western and Central Railways to work as a unified team to restore safe rail services at the earliest,” the Minister stated.
With the threat of further landslides and severe flooding, police and local administrations have issued an urgent advisory: Avoid all non-essential travel and stay indoors until conditions stabilise.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed profound grief over the incident in which six people lost their lives in a house collapse accident in the Mankhurd area of Mumbai and has paid tribute to the deceased.
He announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased, his office said on X.
The Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said, “The accident caused by the collapse of a building due to heavy rainfall in the Mankhurd area of Mumbai is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. I offer my heartfelt condolences to all those who lost their lives in this accident. I share in the grief of their families. The administration should continue rescue and relief operations at a war footing and provide all necessary immediate assistance to those affected. In this difficult time, the state government stands firmly with the affected and is committed to providing all possible help to them.”
(IANS)
