Monsoon Rains in India: 670 mm Rainfall and Landslide Threat in Maharashtra

As the monsoon season intensifies in India's Maharashtra state, the region is facing one of the most severe rainfalls in its history. Serious flood risks have emerged due to excessive rains in many districts, especially Mumbai, as well as Pune, Thane, and Ratnagiri. Anticipating that adverse weather conditions will continue in the coming days, officials have put all emergency teams on high alert. The Maharashtra State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) is continuously conducting risk analysis via geographic information systems to warn local administrations against dangers. To ensure safety across the state, citizens are urged to stay indoors and strictly follow official warnings.

To enable immediate response to potential disasters, 17 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 6 teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to the region. Two NDRF teams each were stationed in Palghar and Nagpur, and one each in Pune, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli, and Dharashiv. Additionally, four separate NDRF teams are kept on standby in Mumbai to act swiftly in case of a crisis. Six SDRF teams have been deployed in the Dhule, Nagpur, Nanded, and Gadchiroli regions, fully equipped to respond instantly to potential emergencies. This comprehensive preparation aims to minimize the devastating damage that monsoon rains could cause.

Rainfall amounts have reached record levels in various parts of the state, negatively affecting daily life. A total of 670 millimeters of rainfall was measured in Lonavla, while 580 mm was recorded in Tamhini, 537 mm in Ambona, and 325 mm around Juhu Airport. In Matheran, Karjat, Mulshi, Panvel, and various neighborhoods of Mumbai, roads turned into lakes due to rainfall exceeding surface capacities. Such intense and continuous rainfall sets the stage for landslides, especially in mountainous and sloping terrains. Meteorology experts are urging the local public to remain cautious, as they expect the rainfall to increase in intensity with a new wave.

Severe rains have also paralyzed the transportation infrastructure in the state, bringing daily life to a virtual standstill. Transportation came to a complete halt due to landslides on the Mumbai-Goa national highway, while waterlogging on the old Mumbai-Pune highway forced authorities to close traffic. Furthermore, landslides on the Pune-Mumbai express train route severely disrupted railway transportation. Officials are working day and night to remove massive piles of earth to restore both road and rail traffic to normal. These disruptions on highways and railways make it significantly difficult for people to commute to work and return home.

There have also been fatalities and dramatic rescue operations during these events. Six people lost their lives and one person was injured when a building collapsed onto a slum in the Mankhurd area of Mumbai. A bus carrying 25 passengers, swept away by floodwaters in the Maval area, was rescued thanks to the swift intervention of NDRF teams. In a landslide that occurred in Patan village of the same area, three to four people are reported to be trapped under the debris after a house was buried. While rescue operations continue at full speed in the region, officials are issuing strict warnings to stay away from floodwaters and collapsed buildings.