Maharashtra Rain Live Updates: Expect more showers in MMR, Pune, Satara in next 3-4 hours, says IMD; schools, colleges to operate normally

The Krishna river is approaching its alert level of 40 feet at Sangli's British-era Irwin Bridge, currently flowing at 36 feet. Meanwhile, the discharge from the upstream Koyna Dam has been increased to 30,000 cusecs.

Mumbai is anticipating moderate to heavy rainfall on Friday, with very heavy rainfall expected in isolated areas, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Gusty winds of up to 50-60 kmph are possible.

The Mumbai University has declared a holiday due to heavy rains in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts, keeping in mind the interest of the students.

All examinations to be held in the morning and afternoon sessions of Mumbai University today (Friday, 26th July 2024) have been postponed only in these districts. The revised dates of all these exams will be announced soon, said Pooja Raudale, director examination and evaluation board

The level of water flowing from the Ulhas river on the Rayta Bridge on National Highway 61 has now gone down but due to the water flowing on the bridge, the barricading of the bridge has broken and the road on both sides has been damaged due to water.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to repair the bridge, for which the Thane District Administration has informed the National Highway Authority and asked to do the repair work immediately. Till the bridge is repaired, the traffic on the highway has been diverted from before Titwala and Mohane side near Kalyan.

Moderate spells of rain are very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Palghar, Raigad, Thane, Ratnagiri, Mumbai and Ghat areas of Pune and Satara during the next 3-4 hours: IMD

• Karjat: 233
• Panvel: 125.5
• Mumbai Airport: 103
• Chembur: 94
• Sion: 89.7
• Matunga: 87
• Santacruz: 85

(all figures in mm)

Heavy rains have compelled Central Railway (CR) authorities to cancel multiple train services between Mumbai and Pune on July 26. CR’s divisional railway manager (Pune) announced on social media that several trains were cancelled on July 25 and 26 due to heavy rainfall, waterlogging, and rising water levels between the Badlapur-Vangani section.

The trains cancelled for Friday include the Pune-CSMT Deccan Queen Express, Pune-CSMT Pragati Express, and CSMT-Pune Intercity Express. CR also cancelled the Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen, CSMT-Pune Pragati Express and Pune-CSMT Intercity Express. A CR spokesperson stated, “Due to heavy rain, loco pilots had to reduce speed as visibility decreased due to wind and rain.” Additionally, train services were disrupted for 20 minutes from 6 pm due to a rail fracture between Ghatkopar and Vikhroli on the CSMT-bound fast track.

Mumbaikars, anticipating a yellow alert from the IMD, were caught off guard by heavy rains early Thursday, causing waterlogging, traffic diversions, and slowing down some local trains. The MMR faced the worst impact, with Thane, Kalyan, Karjat and Raigad receiving 150-200mm of rain.

Two people were swept away in the backwaters of Badlapur’s Barvi dam. Flooding in Ulhasnagar, Ambarnath, Badlapur, and Kalyan led to the evacuation of thousands. Eleven flights were cancelled at Mumbai airport, with many others delayed or diverted. The rain caused Vihar and Modak Sagar lakes to overflow, leading the BMC to end the 10% water cut from July 29.

At least four people died in Pune as record-breaking rain lashed central Maharashtra over a 24-hour period leading up to Thursday, causing widespread flooding and landslides.

In Pune's Deccan Gymkhana area, three men were electrocuted around 2am Thursday while trying to move vessels and furniture from their eatery in the Mutha riverbed. A 30-year-old man died and another was injured in a landslide along Pune-Kolad road in Tamhini Ghat section, about 60km from Pune city, around 2.30am Thursday.

Heavy rains wreaked havoc in Maharashtra's Pune, where at least four persons died in rain-related incidents on Thursday, while low-lying areas were inundated.

Two people are feared trapped in one of the three bungalows buried under debris after a landslide in Lavasa in the morning, a police official said. Pune fire brigade officials said two people are feared drowned in Katraj and Nanayan Peth area but added that no further details were available. During his tour of the district in the afternoon, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said as a precautionary measure, Army teams have been deployed at Ekta Nagar in Sinhagad Road, while NDRF personnel are also in the area.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a 'red alert' for Pune district and asked people to take precautions. Schools and colleges in most parts of the district have declared a holiday in view of the heavy rainfall warning, officials said.

“The rainfall conditions in Mumbai are currently normal. As a result, all schools and colleges in BMC area will operate as usual tomorrow, Friday, July 26, 2024. We kindly request parents to disregard any unofficial information or rumors.” - BMC said.

CM Eknath Shinde has asked all officials to be on the field for giving assistance and tackling the flood situation. Officials said rescue operations were well underway in various districts with heavy downpour in several regions on Thursday.

Schools and colleges in Thane to remain closed tomorrow, July 26 in the wake of heavy rainfall alert: Thane Municipal Corporation.

IMD has issued heavy rainfall alert in Mumbai, Palghar, Thane and Sindhudurg till July 26.

Two persons are feared dead after they entered the Barvi Dam in Thane district on Thursday amid heavy rains, an official said. Ganesh Chindu Kene (35) of Dongarnhave, and Dyaneshwar Budhaji Gondhali (35) of Shastri Nagar in Dudhalepada may have been swept away and a search operation is underway at the site, he added. How they got into the dam amid such heavy rains is not known, the district official said.

On the impact of heavy rainfall on the railways, CPRO Central Railways, Swapnil Dhanraj Nila says, "Due to heavy rain, loco pilots have to decrease the speed as the visibility decreases due to wind and rain and it affects the punctuality... Municipal corporation, KDMC and MCGA have warned people not to come out but only in an emergency situation as there was a red alert in place... We are monitoring the situation and we will take steps for safety measures as needed at times."

Amid high waves at Juhu Beach on Thursday due to heavy rain in Mumbai, local police are urging citizens to exercise caution and move away from the shoreline to prevent any accidents. Authorities have issued warnings, highlighting the dangers posed by the rough sea conditions. (Photo by: Uma Kadam)

Rainfall recorded on July 25 between 8.30am-5.30pm: Colaba: 45 mm; Santacruz: 77.1 mm

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar visits flood-affected areas in Ekta Nagar and Vitthal Nagar of Pune city to take stock of the situation.

As heavy monsoon rains continue to lash Maharashtra, four major rivers have crossed the danger level, putting riverside villages on high alert.

The state irrigation department's data on Thursday showed that the Kundalika River has surged to 24.50 meters, well above its danger level of 23.95 meters. Villages including Roha, Kolad, Gowe, Pui, Wakan, Khargaon, and Dhatav are potentially at risk, officials said.

The Amba River at Nagothane Bandhara has reached 10.40 meters, exceeding its danger mark of 9.00 meters. Nagothane, Pali, and Unhere villages are under threat.

Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar urged the Eknath Shinde government on Thursday to promptly announce a financial aid package for farmers who have suffered crop losses due to heavy rains across the state.

According to the Leader of Opposition in the assembly, crops over thousands of hectares have been destroyed by the relentless downpour. He noted that regions such as East Vidarbha, Kolhapur, Raigad and Pune, including Pune city, Bhor Velha, Maval, Haveli, have experienced heavy rainfall, while the situation in Mulshi taluka's Khadakvasla is particularly dire.

An Air India flight is ready for take off at Mumbai airport adjacent to Mithi River which is flowing a metre below the danger mark of 3.5 metre.

A low-level bridge over a stream was washed away amid heavy rains in Mahad MIDC area of Maharashtra's Raigad district on Thursday, an official said. The bridge connected Kasbe Shivthar and Samarth Shivthar villages, he said. It was not used for vehicular movement, but locals used it to reach their fields in Samarth Shivthar, the official added. The IMD has issued a red alert forecasting heavy to very heavy rains in the coastal Raigad district.

The SWaCH waste pickers, who reach Pune's doorsteps daily to collect waste, are facing significant challenges due to flooding in their many areas of Pune city.

All buses on routes 523, 524, 525, 409, 461, 469, 706, 349 etc. are diverted in SEEPZ area due to huge potholes in the area, an official said.

SWaCH waste pickers, who collect waste daily from Pune's households, are encountering major difficulties due to widespread flooding in various parts of the city, causing delays in door-to-door waste collection. In a statement, the SWaCH cooperative highlighted that many waste pickers living in low-lying slum areas are particularly impacted by the heavy rains.

About 400 people were evacuated to safety on Thursday following flooding in Sinhagad Road and some other areas along the riverbank in Pune city due to incessant rains, officials said.

Due to heavy rains, the entire road in front of the multi-storey parking near Kalyan station is waterlogged, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Holiday declared for schools & colleges in BMC jurisdiction in wake of Red alert issued by IMD: BMC

Heavy overnight rains led to severe waterlogging in Kalyaninagar on Thursday morning. Residents woke to knee-deep water flooding their homes and parking areas.

Due to the rising water level of the Ulhas river in Kalyan, the administration has so far shifted more than 150 people from 40 families to safer places.

Water of the Ulhas river is flowing over the Rayta Bridge on National Highway 61. Due to the closure of Rayta Bridge, vehicles have been diverted on highway from the Shahad area in Kalyan and near Titwala.

Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani to remain closed for tourists as IMD issues red alert for rainfall in ghat areas of Satara district. District guardian minister Shamburaj Desai announced the decision after holding meeting with district officials.

Many areas in Pune experienced power outages and voltage fluctuations on Thursday due to heavy rains and waterlogging. Electricity department officials reported that in 90% of the cases, they had turned off the power supply to prevent mishaps, while in 10% of the cases, moisture seeping into the power lines or fallen trees damaging power lines was the cause.

Nishikant Raut, Public Relations Officer of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (MSEDCL), stated, "In several areas such as Sinhagad Road, Wakdewadi, and Sindh Society, we have switched off the power as a safety measure. Distribution transformers have been submerged in some locations, and water has entered the meter rooms in many societies.

The Maharashtra government has asked Karnataka to increase the water discharge from Almatti dam to three lakh cusec from the current outflow of 2.5 lakh cusec.

Areas in Mumbai which recorded over 100 mm rains from 4 am-1 pm today:

• Sewri: 109 mm
• Sion: 105 mm
• Reay Road: 104 mm
• Dindoshi: 154 mm
• Charkop: 148 mm
• Bandra Kurla Complex: 139 mm
• Ghatkopar: 153 mm
• Powai: 142 mm

Heavy rains have caused flooding and significant waterlogging in various parts of the city, severely impacting daily transportation.

Officials from the Pune division of the MSRTC reported that daily operations across different districts have been reduced by about 30%. "The number of passengers has decreased due to the heavy rains in Pune and other districts, leading to a reduction in bus services. We are closely monitoring buses heading towards Kolhapur, and drivers have been instructed to remain vigilant and stay in contact with their depot managers and other drivers," said Pramod Nehul, the divisional controller of Pune. Approximately 700 buses depart from Pune to various districts, including Mumbai, each day.

An official from the Pune-Mumbai Expressway control room mentioned that despite the heavy rains, there have been no traffic disruptions so far. "The rains are very heavy, but traffic is moving smoothly without any incidents of heavy waterlogging or boulder falls. Authorities are keeping a close watch," the official said.