13 Dead, Traffic Paralysed: Heavy Monsoon Rain Cripples Life In Maharashtra, Landslides Trigger Chaos | Key Developments

New Delhi: Monsoon fury intensified across Maharashtra on Monday, as relentless downpours brought the state to a standstill and triggered a series of life-threatening emergencies. 

In Pune’s Maval tehsil, disaster response teams are in a desperate race against time to rescue a family feared trapped after a massive landslide buried their home in Patan village. 

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is reeling under the impact of the deluge; essential transport links, including the crucial Mumbai-Pune Expressway and several arterial rail lines, have been severed by flooding and debris. 

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) maintaining a red alert for the region and warning of further extreme weather, authorities have urged citizens to avoid all non-essential travel as the state grapples with the mounting toll of this monsoon crisis."  

Train cancellations

Amid the monsoon mayhem, train services along the vital Mumbai-Pune rail corridor were suspended early Monday morning as heavy rainfall caused multiple landslides in the Karjat-Lonavala Bhor Ghat section, causing significant disruption to one of Maharashtra’s busiest transit routes.

All three railway tracks in the ghat section were impacted, compelling Central Railway to cancel, divert, regulate, or reschedule a significant number of passenger and long-distance trains.

Officials confirmed that restoration efforts began immediately, while passengers are urged to check the current status of their trains before heading to the station.

'Due to incessant heavy rainfall...'

Commenting on the landslide, Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway said, that the first landslide was reported near Thakurwadi in the Bhor Ghat section, followed by a second incident on the middle track between Khandala and Monkey Hill at approximately 3:05 a.m.

"Due to incessant heavy rainfall in the South East Ghat section between Karjat and Lonavala, a landslide occurred between Thakurvadi and Monkey Hill Loop Cabin on the Up Main Line of Mumbai Division," he said.

Which trains were cancelled

The service suspension led to the cancellation of numerous key trains between Mumbai and Pune, including  

• CSMT-Pune Indrayani Express
• Pune-Solapur Intercity Express
• Solapur-Pune Intercity Express
• Pune-CSMT Indrayani Express
• CSMT-Pune Intercity Express
• Pune-CSMT Intercity Express
• CSMT-Pune Deccan Express
• Pune-CSMT Deccan Express
• Pune-CSMT Deccan Queen
• CSMT-Pune Deccan Queen
• Pune-CSMT Pragati Express
• CSMT-Pune Pragati Express
• Pune-CSMT Sinhagad Express
• CSMT-Pune Sinhagad Express
• CSMT-Dhule Express 
• Dhule-CSMT Express.

Central Railway also managed the crisis by diverting, rescheduling, and short-terminating various long-distance trains to reduce inconvenience. Authorities stated that normal operations will resume only after the tracks are cleared and confirmed safe for travel.

Several long-distance trains have also been diverted through alternate routes, including the Ahmedabad-Kolhapur Express, Indore-Daund Express, Ahmedabad-Pune Duronto Express, Bidar-CSMT Express, Hazur Sahib Nanded-Panvel Express, Charlapalli-Indore Humsafar Express, LTT-SMVT Bengaluru Express, Daund-Gwalior Superfast Express and Chennai Egmore-CSMT Mail.

Vaishnaw reviews situation

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the situation and said restoration work was underway despite continued heavy rainfall.

"Reviewed the situation arising out of heavy landslides and boulders falling onto the railway tracks in the Mumbai-Pune ghat section. The team is fully geared up for restoration. Heavy rainfall is expected today also. Have asked both Western and Central Railway officers to work as one team to ensure early restoration of all train services," the minister said.

Chaos on Mumbai-Pune route

Not only has the vital Mumbai-Pune rail corridor been brought to a standstill by landslides, but the region’s road connectivity has also been severed, with both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old highway forced to close due to torrential rains and flooding. 

This dual disruption has left countless commuters stranded and effectively cut off travel between the two cities as monsoon fury intensifies across the region.

Pune House collapse

A harrowing incident also unfolded early this morning in the remote village of Patan, located in Pune's Mawal taluka, after a landslide struck a residential home, leaving an entire family feared trapped under the debris.

Following the incident, the 5th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Pune was called in to assist. A 30-member rescue team, consisting of one officer, two senior officials, and 27 personnel, was dispatched to the location at approximately 5:50 a.m. 

Equipped with specialized disaster response gear, the team is operating under the supervision of Assistant Commandant Chandraketu Sharma and is led by Inspector Ravinder. Rescue efforts are ongoing as teams work to locate and extract any survivors trapped beneath the wreckage.

Following the incident, the 5th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Pune was called in to assist. A 30-member rescue team, consisting of one officer, two senior officials, and 27 personnel, was dispatched to the location at approximately 5:50 a.m. 

Equipped with specialized disaster response gear, the team is operating under the supervision of Assistant Commandant Chandraketu Sharma and is led by Inspector Ravinder. Rescue efforts are ongoing as teams work to locate and extract any survivors trapped beneath the wreckage.

Mumbai Issues Work From Home Advisory

Amid relentless heavy rainfall that has disrupted normal life across Mumbai, the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on Monday issued a work-from-home advisory for private offices and announced a half-day for employees in non-essential government offices to minimise travel and ensure public safety.

"In view of the current weather situation, SDMA has issued directions for Mumbai only: private offices are advised to allow work from home wherever possible. Non-essential government offices will observe a half-day," the authority said.\

Schools and Colleges Shut

Earlier, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced that all government, private and civic body-run schools and colleges in Mumbai would remain closed on Monday after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange Alert forecasting heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds.

The civic body said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students.

Flights cancelled

Heavy monsoon rains have severely disrupted operations at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, resulting in the cancellation of 17 flights and delays for 217 others as of 11:30 a.m. today, according to airport sources.

13 Deaths across state

Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan reported on Monday that 13 people have died in rain-related incidents over the last few days as Mumbai, Palghar, and Raigad face unprecedented downpours.

This came as Maharashtra witnessed a strong morning spell of rain lashing several parts of the state amid the 'Red Alert' issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today.

The IMD also forecasted a "generally cloudy sky with moderate rain" to continue across the district till 10th July in Tehsil Mawal in Maharashtra's Pune district. The Pawana River in the Ravet locality of Pimpri-Chinchwad was gushing as the area received heavy rainfall.

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