Heavy rainfall claims 13 lives across Maharashtra
At least 13 people have been killed across Maharashtra as Mumbai received its average monthly rainfall for July in just four days, according to officials. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Mumbai recorded over 200 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending Saturday morning, pushing the city's four-day total past the typical July average of 800 mm.
Mumbai and Pune hit hardest
In Mumbai, nine deaths were reported due to wall collapses, drowning, and electrocution. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said three people died when a retaining wall gave way in a slum colony in Chembur, while two others were electrocuted in flooded streets in Andheri. In Pune, four fatalities occurred following a landslide in the hilly area of Sinhagad Road, which buried three houses. The Pune municipal commissioner confirmed that rescue teams recovered four bodies and were searching for one missing person.
Widespread flooding and disruptions
The deluge caused widespread waterlogging in low-lying areas of Mumbai, including Hindmata, King's Circle, and Sion, with water levels reaching up to four feet in some places. Local train services, the city's lifeline, were severely disrupted, with several lines suspended for hours. The IMD has issued a red alert for Mumbai and neighboring districts, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours. Schools and colleges in Mumbai and Pune have been closed as a precautionary measure.
Government response and rescue operations
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas and announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed eight teams in Mumbai and two in Pune for rescue operations. Officials said over 1,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas in Mumbai and shifted to temporary shelters. The state government has also warned residents in landslide-prone areas to move to safer locations.
Climate experts link extreme rainfall to climate change
Climate scientists attributed the extreme rainfall event to climate change, which has increased the intensity and frequency of such downpours. According to Roxy Mathew Koll of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the warming of the Arabian Sea is leading to more moisture-laden winds, resulting in cloudburst-like situations over Mumbai and the west coast.
