Heavy rainfall continued to affect several parts of Maharashtra, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a Red Alert for Nashik ghat areas, Pune ghat areas, Palghar and Raigad districts on Tuesday.
The weather department has also issued an Orange Alert for Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri, Nashik, Satara ghat areas, Akola and Amravati districts due to the possibility of heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Following the weather alerts, several district administrations announced a holiday for schools and colleges as a precautionary measure.
Educational institutions remained closed in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Bhiwandi, Nashik and rural areas of Pune. Officials said the decision was taken considering the continuous rainfall over the last three days and the possibility of waterlogging in several areas.
Mumbai remains on Orange Alert
After witnessing continuous rainfall, Mumbai saw a brief pause in heavy showers. However, the IMD has maintained an Orange Alert for the city, forecasting heavy rain along with gusty winds.
Authorities have advised residents to remain cautious as thick cloud cover continues over Mumbai despite the temporary reduction in rainfall intensity.
The Mithi River is reportedly flowing at full capacity following heavy rainfall in the city and surrounding areas. Earlier, intense rain caused disruptions on all three suburban railway routes in Mumbai.
Train services affected due to rainfall
Suburban train services continued to face delays due to the impact of heavy rainfall.
On Western Railway, local trains were running around 15 to 20 minutes behind schedule. Services between Vasai and Virar, which were badly affected earlier, have resumed. However, water accumulation on tracks in the Vasai-Virar section continued to create operational challenges, leading to the cancellation of some trains.
Central Railway services were also delayed by around 15 to 20 minutes, while trains on the Harbour Line were operating with delays of nearly 10 to 15 minutes.
Heavy rain causes flooding in Palghar
Palghar district witnessed severe disruption after intense rainfall caused flooding in several areas, including Vasai-Virar, Saphale, Kelve, Palghar, Boisar, Manor and Wada.
Officials said rivers and streams overflowed following continuous heavy rainfall. The Tansa River reached the danger mark, causing floodwaters to enter riverside villages and homes, damaging essential supplies and property.
The Vaitarna River near Manor also witnessed flooding, leading to water entering nearby villages and submerging several roads. Residential areas in Wada were also affected.
Traffic movement on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway was disrupted near Dhekale after mudslides and heavy water flow from nearby hills affected the route.
Chief Minister reviews rain situation
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the situation and said there was a risk of extremely heavy rainfall in Nashik.
When asked about implementing Work From Home directives due to the weather conditions, CM Fadnavis stated, "On humanitarian grounds, when a weather alert is issued, it is expected that everyone responds to it responsibly."
He said holidays had already been declared for all non-essential services and warned that action would be taken against offices and establishments forcing employees to report to work despite official safety instructions.
Authorities continue to monitor rainfall conditions across Maharashtra as emergency teams remain on alert in vulnerable areas.
(With inputs from IANS)
* This article was originally published here
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