Heavy monsoon rain battered several parts of India on Monday, triggering floods, landslides and widespread disruption across multiple states. Maharashtra remained among the worst-hit regions, while Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Rajasthan also faced the impact of relentless rainfall.
Maharashtra bears the brunt of heavy rain
Maharashtra recorded three more rain-related deaths in Pune, taking the state’s death toll to 16. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall along with strong winds.
The downpour severely affected normal life in Mumbai and nearby areas. Waterlogged roads slowed traffic, while uprooted trees, wall collapses and billboard incidents were reported from different parts of the city.
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The newly opened Missing Link stretch of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway also faced its first major monsoon challenge after a concrete pillar collapsed onto the carriageway. Authorities closed both the expressway and sections of the old Mumbai-Pune highway following landslides and flooding.
Rail and air services were also hit. More than 40 Western Railway services were disrupted due to waterlogging and landslides, with several trains cancelled, diverted or short-terminated. Five incoming flights to Mumbai were diverted.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the situation as a “force majeure” and said disaster management agencies were fully mobilised.
Northern states witness floods and landslides
Heavy overnight rain caused flash floods, landslides and road blockades in Himachal Pradesh, where a 14-year-old girl lost her life. Flooding blocked the Chamba-Tissa road in Chamba district, while traffic was disrupted on the Larji-Sainj road in Kullu. The IMD has issued an orange alert for Tuesday.
In Jammu & Kashmir, continuous rainfall triggered flash floods that damaged the Doda-Kishtwar highway. Several vehicles were buried near the under-construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar, disrupting movement in the region.
Uttarakhand also reported a landslide on the Gangotri Highway as rising river levels followed persistent rain. The IMD has placed the state under a yellow alert for Tuesday.
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Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Rajasthan remain on alert
Central and eastern India continued to receive intense rainfall. Chhattisgarh witnessed flooding in low-lying areas and traffic disruption as rivers, including the Shivnath and Kharun, swelled. The IMD warned of “extremely heavy rainfall” over the next 24 hours, with the State Disaster Response Force remaining on high alert.
Odisha stayed on statewide alert as rain entered its third consecutive day. Meanwhile, Rajasthan reported waterlogging in several areas, with monsoon activity remaining strongest over the Udaipur, Kota and Bharatpur divisions. According to the IMD, the active spell is likely to continue for the next five to six days due to a depression that has moved from the Bay of Bengal towards southern Jharkhand and northern Odisha.
FAQs:
Why is India witnessing such heavy rainfall?
IMD says an active monsoon system linked to a depression over southern Jharkhand and northern Odisha is driving widespread heavy rain.
Which states are worst affected by the latest heavy rains in India?
Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and parts of Rajasthan are among the worst-hit states.
