Relentless rains have unleashed chaos across Mumbai and several districts of Maharashtra, leaving six people dead and hundreds displaced over the past 48 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, forecasting extremely heavy showers at isolated locations.
Schools Shut, Offices Closed
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for all government and semi-government offices.
- Schools and colleges across the Konkan region were shut as a precaution.
- The Bombay High Court curtailed its operations due to waterlogging.
Transport in Disarray
- Local train services on the Harbour and Main lines were suspended due to submerged tracks between CSMT-Kurla and Kurla-Sion.
- BEST buses were diverted across multiple routes.
- Flights were delayed or diverted, adding to commuter woes.
Rescue Operations Intensify
Over 290 people were rescued from flood-hit villages in Nanded district, with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Army deployed across vulnerable zones. In Kurla, nearly 350 residents were evacuated as the Mithi River swelled dangerously.
Rivers Overflow, Villages Cut Off
- In Gadchiroli, over 50 villages in Bhamragad taluka remain isolated after the Perlkota River overflowed.
- Kolhapur’s Radhanagari Dam released 11,500 cusecs into the Bhogavati River, pushing the Panchganga River above danger levels for the fifth time this season.
- Landslides disrupted traffic on the Kolhapur-Ratnagiri Highway, while rising waters in the Warna and Koyna Rivers triggered alerts downstream.
Agricultural Devastation
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar reported that nearly 10 lakh hectares of farmland have been submerged. Damage assessments will begin once the rains subside.
Weather Forecast
The IMD predicts continued intense rainfall in Konkan and central Maharashtra for the next two days. An orange alert remains in effect for Marathwada and Vidarbha, expected to downgrade to yellow later this week.
