Maharashtra Rain Fury: 12 Dead as Heavy Downpour Batters State, Nanded Worst-Hit
At least 12 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across Maharashtra as relentless heavy downpours continue to pound the state, Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan confirmed on Tuesday. The Nanded district has been the most severely affected, reporting nine fatalities due to extensive flooding.
In Mumbai, one person was killed after a wall collapsed amidst the torrential rain, while two other deaths were reported from different districts. With relief and rescue teams on high alert in vulnerable areas, the state is bracing for more severe weather.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai and its suburbs for Tuesday, warning of continued very heavy rainfall that has already brought the city to a near standstill.
In response, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for all government, semi-government, and municipal offices, excluding essential services. The civic body also urged private companies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to allow employees to work from home and strongly advised all citizens to avoid any non-essential travel.
The deluge has caused widespread disruption across the board. Air travel was significantly impacted, with data showing delays for 155 departing flights and 102 arrivals at Mumbai Airport. Educational institutions across the region have been shut down, with schools and colleges in Mumbai closed and the Directorate of Higher Education declaring a holiday for senior colleges throughout the Konkan region. Public transport services have also been severely affected.
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses were forced to divert their routes in several parts of the city due to flooded roads. For Mumbai’s lifeline, the local trains, it was a day of hardship for commuters, with Central Railway services running 20 to 30 minutes behind schedule due to waterlogging on tracks in low-lying areas like Dadar, Matunga, and Sion, compounded by a signalling failure reported earlier in the day.
