Heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed several parts of the country on Monday, triggering flash floods, landslides and widespread disruption that claimed at least four lives, inundated roads and buildings, and severely affected air, rail and road connectivity. Authorities across multiple states intensified emergency response efforts as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of more rainfall in the coming days.
Maharashtra among worst-hit as death toll rises
Maharashtra remained one of the worst-affected states after relentless rainfall battered several districts. Three rain-related deaths were reported in Pune, taking the state’s overall monsoon toll to 16.
The IMD issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds.
Mumbai reels under heavy downpour
Relentless rain brought Mumbai and its surrounding regions to a standstill, with widespread waterlogging, uprooted trees and multiple incidents of wall and billboard collapses reported across the city.
The newly opened Missing Link section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway also came under strain during its first major monsoon spell after a concrete pillar collapsed onto the carriageway. Authorities shut portions of both the expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune highway following landslides and flooding.
Rail services were also disrupted, with more than 40 Western Railway trains cancelled, diverted or short-terminated because of waterlogging and landslides. Five flights bound for Mumbai were diverted as adverse weather impacted airport operations.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the situation as a “force majeure” event and said disaster management teams had been fully deployed across affected areas.
Flash floods and landslides hit northern states
Heavy overnight rainfall also caused widespread damage across Himachal Pradesh, where flash floods, landslides and road blockages disrupted normal life. A 14-year-old girl was killed in a rain-related incident.
Flash floods blocked the Chamba-Tissa road in Chamba district, while traffic was disrupted on the Larji-Sainj route in Kullu. The IMD has issued an orange alert for Tuesday.
In Jammu and Kashmir, continuous rainfall triggered flash floods that damaged sections of the Doda-Kishtwar highway and buried several vehicles near the under-construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar.
Neighbouring Uttarakhand also reported a landslide on the Gangotri Highway as rising river levels added to the impact of heavy rainfall. A yellow alert has been issued for the state.
Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan continue to receive heavy rain
Central India also witnessed intense monsoon activity, with Chhattisgarh reporting flooding in low-lying areas, traffic disruptions and rising river levels. The IMD has warned of extremely heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.
Several rivers, including the Shivnath and Kharun, are flowing above normal levels, prompting the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to remain on high alert. Odisha also continued to remain under alert as rainfall entered its third consecutive day.
Meanwhile, parts of Rajasthan experienced widespread rainfall and waterlogging, with the heaviest monsoon activity recorded across the Udaipur, Kota and Bharatpur divisions. According to the IMD, the active spell is expected to persist over the next five to six days due to a depression moving from the Bay of Bengal towards southern Jharkhand and northern Odisha.
