Mumbai, July 4 (IANS) Heavy, unrelenting rainfall over the last 24 hours has battered Maharashtra, throwing normal life completely out of gear across Mumbai, the entire Konkan belt, Central Maharashtra, and Vidarbha.

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting severe downpours to continue until July 6, authorities have issued a strict advisory urging citizens to step out of their homes only if necessary. A red alert has been sounded for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts, prompting emergency response teams to go on high alert.

In a staggering climatic event, Mumbai recorded 60 per cent of its average monthly rainfall for July in just the first three days of the month. The resulting deluge has turned several low-lying areas into virtual lakes, leading to severe waterlogging, road cave-ins, and tree-falling incidents.

The crucial Andheri Subway has been temporarily closed due to heavy flooding. Traffic connecting the East and West suburbs has been diverted to alternative routes. Severe waterlogging near Rolta Junction in Andheri MIDC and outside SEEPZ Gate No 2 has heavily slowed down traffic heading toward the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR).

The lifeline of Mumbai, the local train network, suffered massive disruptions. Waterlogged tracks at Nalasopara station forced Western Railway to run local trains at a restricted speed, causing delays of 15 to 20 minutes and triggering massive crowds at stations during peak hours.

The neighbouring districts of Mumbai are facing an equally grim situation. Dombivli railway station and its surrounding markets were completely submerged. Floodwaters entered several shops, causing heavy financial losses to local traders and forcing commuters to wade through waist-deep water.

Mumbra witnessed intense rainfall, recording 88.84 mm in just 6 hours. Shops in the Amrit Nagar locality were inundated. In the Mithagar settlement of Vasai, roads were swallowed by waist-deep water, trapping around 150 families and over 1,000 residents.

Fearing electrical hazards as water threatened to enter homes, Mahavitaran (the state power utility) preemptively cut off electricity.

On the Palghar-Satpati Road, the Tembhode area became impassable as floodwaters rushed across the highway, stranding motorists. In Navi Mumbai, continuous downpours completely flooded the premium Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Market. The grain, spice, and vegetable markets were submerged under feet of water, bringing commercial trading to a grinding halt.

Angry traders alleged negligence and a total lack of effective drainage management, panicking over potential losses running into millions of rupees. Traders expressed deep resentment over the absence of municipal officials on-site to address the crisis.

According to government sources, following torrential rain in Pali and Nagothane from Raigad district, the Amba River breached its danger level. The small bridge at the Bherav-Khuravle diversion went completely underwater, severing connectivity to several villages, including Mahagaon, Waghoshi, Bherav, and Tadgaon.

A massive landslide hit the Ingloon Ghat in Junnar taluka. While no casualties were reported, debris and mud blocked the highway, forcing authorities to operate two-way traffic through a single lane while JCBs cleared the wreckage. Ratnagiri district remains under a yellow alert.

Heavily battered by rain, multiple ghat (mountain pass) routes leading into the Konkan region have been hit by mudslides and falling rocks, prompting the administration to issue a stark warning to travellers: “Is a monsoon journey worth risking your life?”

The water levels of the Panchganga River in Kolhapur district are rising rapidly, sparking immediate concerns of flooding.

Despite the relentless downpours, Maharashtra’s water storage remains surprisingly low and unsatisfactory compared to the previous year. Currently, the state’s 3,028 large, medium, and small dam projects collectively hold 10,443 million cubic metres of live storage, which is just 25.56 per cent of their total capacity. On this exact day last year, the state’s water stock stood at a much healthier 49.76 per cent.

The state emergency centre and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation administration have issued an advisory urging citizens to closely monitor official railway and traffic updates before planning any travel, as emergency services continue around-the-clock water-pumping and relief operations.

–IANS

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