Relentless monsoon rains continue to batter Maharashtra, claiming more lives and causing widespread disruption across the state. A 10-year-old boy was swept away by the swollen Kamvari River in Bhiwandi while disposing of household garbage, marking the second drowning in the river within just 24 hours. Meanwhile, a deadly landslide in Pune district killed one person, as rescue teams continue searching for two others trapped under debris.
With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad, authorities have stepped up emergency measures, advising residents to avoid unnecessary travel and urging offices to adopt work-from-home arrangements wherever possible.
In one of the latest rain-related tragedies, a 10-year-old boy was swept away by the swollen Kamvari River in Bhiwandi while dumping household garbage near the riverbank. The incident is the second drowning reported in the river within the past 24 hours, highlighting the dangers posed by overflowing water bodies during the ongoing heavy rains.
Local authorities have launched a search operation to trace the missing child.
Heavy rainfall also triggered a landslide in Pune district's Maval tehsil, where a house was buried under debris. One person has been confirmed dead, while teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are continuing rescue operations to locate two others believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
Officials said challenging weather conditions have made rescue efforts difficult, but operations are continuing round the clock.
In view of the worsening weather conditions, the SDMA has requested private companies in Mumbai to allow employees to work from home wherever feasible.
Non-essential government offices have been directed to function on a half-day schedule, while citizens have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel as heavy rain continues to affect roads and public transport.
A landslide near the exit of Tunnel 2 on the Pune-Mumbai Connecting Link Road forced authorities to divert traffic from around 4 am on Monday.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), in coordination with highway police, is monitoring the situation and overseeing clearance operations to restore normal traffic movement.
Rail connectivity between Mumbai and Pune has also been severely affected after multiple landslides in the Bhor Ghat section.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is reviewing restoration efforts as railway officials work to clear debris and resume train services at the earliest.
As a precautionary measure, educational institutions have remained closed in several districts.
Schools across Pune district were ordered shut after the IMD forecast extremely heavy rainfall. The district administration declared a holiday to ensure the safety of students and staff.
In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced a holiday for all government, private and civic-run schools and colleges on Monday following forecasts of heavy rainfall and strong winds. However, government and private offices in the city continue to function, subject to the SDMA's advisory.
Neighbouring districts have also taken similar precautions. Thane District Collector Shrikrishnath Panchal ordered the closure of anganwadis, balwadis, primary and secondary schools, while the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) suspended classes in all schools for the day.
The latest incidents come a day after six people, including four children, lost their lives when a ground-plus-three-storey structure comprising two to three chawls collapsed in Mumbai's Mankhurd area amid incessant rainfall.
The Maharashtra government has announced an ex gratia of ₹4 lakh each for the families of those who died in the tragedy.
Disaster response teams remain deployed across vulnerable districts as heavy rain continues to lash Maharashtra. Rescue agencies, civic authorities and weather officials are closely monitoring the evolving situation, with citizens urged to stay away from flooded areas, rivers and landslide-prone locations until weather conditions improve.
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