Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) Incessant rainfall over the past week has severely disrupted normal life across Maharashtra, triggering flood-like situations in several districts. Rivers, streams, and local water bodies are overflowing, cutting off connectivity and submerging low-lying areas. While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) maintains active alerts for multiple regions, weather experts have indicated that the monsoon’s intensity is expected to recede starting Wednesday, leaving light to moderate showers confined primarily to the Konkan coast and the ghat (mountainous) regions.

Despite indications of a weakening monsoon system, the IMD has issued alerts for several parts of the state due to localised vulnerabilities. The coastal districts of Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri remain under a yellow alert, with forecasts predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated spots.

After a brief overnight battering that caused severe waterlogging in areas like Worli Village, Mumbai saw a temporary reprieve in the morning. Road transit remains operational, though suburban railway networks reported minor disruptions — Central Line trains are running 5 minutes late, while Harbour and Trans-Harbour lines face delays of up to 10 minutes. Moderate rain is expected throughout the day, the IMD said.

Extreme caution has been advised for the ghat regions of Pune and Satara, where very heavy downpours continue. In contrast, Pune city is expected to experience only light to moderate showers. The districts of Kolhapur (ghat areas under yellow alert), Sangli, Solapur, and Satara are projected to receive light rain.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are highly likely in Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, and Wardha. Moderate spells will persist across Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, and Nashik. The Nashik ghat areas remain under a yellow alert.

Officials noted that a severe cloudburst threat initially loomed over Nashik, but the dense cloud mass diverted toward Palghar and Gujarat, mitigating catastrophic damage. The continuous deluge over the past five days has dramatically altered the state’s water reservoir levels, shifting the focus toward flood management.

Relentless rain in the catchment areas has rapidly filled Pune’s key water systems. The Khadakwasla Dam has reached maximum capacity, prompting authorities to release water into the Mutha River at a massive rate of 27,000 cusecs (surging from an earlier discharge of 22,880 cusecs). Consequently, Pune’s low-lying Baba Bhide Bridge has been completely submerged.

Floodwaters have breached residential zones, entering houses in the Ekta Nagar Society. Local administration teams are executing relief operations, and Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure has been personally inspecting vulnerable pockets like Rajput Nagar, Pulachiwadi, and Nimbanagar since dawn to coordinate evacuations. Collectively, the four dams in the Khadakwasla circle hold 14 TMC of water, accounting for roughly 48 per cent of their cumulative storage capacity.

In Alandi, a major pilgrimage site, the Indrayani River has breached its banks. All four primary bridges spanning the river are submerged under floodwaters, paralysing local transport and causing significant structural and property damage in adjacent neighbourhoods.

While western parts of the state drown, the Marathwada region is still waiting for definitive relief. The crucial Jayakwadi Dam logged a fresh inflow of 1,493 cusecs over the last 24 hours, bringing its useful water stock to 28.24 per cent. Despite the inflow, this is significantly lower than the 49.65 per cent storage recorded on the same date last year, emphasising Marathwada’s ongoing struggle with an uneven monsoon distribution.

Intermittent disruptions continue to plague the state’s transport networks. In the Varandha Ghat section, a massive landslide occurred while clearance operations for a previous debris fall were actively underway. A team of highway officials and labourers narrowly escaped a fatal accident as a fresh patch of the hillside gave way. Work was temporarily halted to evaluate structural stability before being resumed under strict safety guidelines.

In Eastern Maharashtra, a dry June had left the agrarian community on the brink of distress due to El Niño anxieties. However, after a brief two-day lull, intense evening showers lashed the Bhandara district, including the Tumsar taluka. The fresh precipitation has restored agricultural operations, allowing local farmers to fast-track delayed paddy transplantation.

–IANS

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