Thirteen people have died and 10 others have been injured as relentless monsoon rain battered large parts of Maharashtra over the past two days, triggering floods, landslides, building collapses and widespread disruption across the state.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), nearly 100 houses have been damaged and hundreds of residents have been displaced. Several rivers have crossed warning and danger levels, while rescue teams remain deployed in vulnerable districts as heavy rain continues.
Landslides, building collapse and flooding leave trail of destruction
The worst single incident was reported from Mumbai’s Mankhurd area, where a building collapsed onto a slum cluster, killing six people and injuring one. Another person died in the city’s suburbs after being struck by a falling tree.
In Satara district, one person was killed in a landslide and four others were injured. Thane reported two injuries after part of a building collapsed. One drowning death each was reported from Palghar and Sindhudurg.
Strong winds also damaged property in Sindhudurg, where 30 houses collapsed.
Lonavala records massive rainfall
Rainfall remained exceptionally heavy across western Maharashtra and the Konkan region.
Lonavala received 625 mm of rain over the past 48 hours. During the last 24 hours, Raigad recorded 236 mm of rainfall, followed by Thane with 161 mm, Ratnagiri with 152 mm and Palghar with an average of 132 mm. Rainfall across different parts of Mumbai ranged between 100 mm and 161 mm.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) reported that Palghar had received 203.3 mm of rain in the previous 24 hours, the highest recorded in the state during that assessment period. Thane received 116.4 mm, Raigad 108.7 mm, Mumbai Suburban 90.4 mm and Pune 70.9 mm.
Rivers overflow, flood alerts issued
Several rivers have crossed critical levels following the intense rainfall.
The Ulhas, Kalu and Pinjal rivers are flowing above their warning levels. The Amba, Savitri, Kundalika, Patalganga, Jagbudi and Ulhas rivers have crossed danger marks.
Flood alerts have been issued for Badlapur, Mohane and Jambhulpada.
Red Alert for hill stations, NDRF teams deployed
Authorities have issued a Red Alert for hill stations including Matheran, Lonavala, Khopoli and Lohagad due to the heightened risk of landslides.
Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to the affected areas.
In Pune district’s Mawal taluka, four people became trapped after a landslide struck a house in Patan.
Near Talegaon-Dabhade, an NDRF team rescued all 25 passengers after their bus became stranded in floodwaters.
In Raigad district’s Sudhagad taluka, six members of a family, including a six-month-old infant, were rescued by boat after floodwaters surrounded their home and submerged approach roads.
Highways disrupted as landslides hit transport
Road connectivity was affected at multiple locations.
Traffic came to a standstill on the Mumbai-Goa Highway after a landslide in the Kashedi Ghat.
Landslides and severe waterlogging also disrupted movement on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the Khopoli Highway before traffic was restored later in the day.
The Mawal and Tamhini ghat sections also witnessed landslides and flooding, forcing authorities to divert vehicles.
High waves warning along Maharashtra coast
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a Red Alert high wave warning for the entire Maharashtra coastline until the night of July 8.
Wave heights of 4.8 to 5 metres are forecast along Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, while waves of 4.2 to 4.5 metres are expected along the Thane, Mumbai and Raigad coast. Palghar is expected to witness waves between 3.7 and 3.9 metres.
Authorities have advised fishing boats and small vessels not to venture into the sea. Nearshore recreational activities have also been suspended.
Reservoir storage below last year’s level
Despite the heavy rainfall, water storage across Maharashtra’s reservoirs remains below last year’s level.
According to the MSDMA, reservoirs are currently at 32.62 per cent of their total capacity compared with 46.57 per cent on the same date last year. The Konkan division has the highest storage at 68.52 per cent.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed Nashik and Palghar under nowcast alerts for the afternoon. Orange alerts remain in force for Bhandara and Gondia.