Key points
- IMD red alert for Mumbai, Thane; orange/red across multiple districts till Aug 21.
- Mumbai schools/colleges shut; Thane, Palghar, Raigad also announce holidays.
- 170–177mm rain in 6–8 hours in parts of Mumbai; >500mm in 84 hours citywide, flooding key corridors.
- Nanded’s Mukhed worst-hit in Marathwada; Lendi dam level spikes; Army, SDRF on rescue ops.
- At least 6–7 deaths across Maharashtra; several missing; 800–1,001 villages affected, 2.8L–4L ha crops impacted.
Mumbai: Relentless monsoon rain has severely disrupted life across Mumbai and many Maharashtra districts since the weekend, prompting an IMD red alert for Mumbai and Thane and closure of schools and colleges as authorities battle flooding, transport delays, and landslides. The city recorded 177mm in 6–8 hours in one spell, while cumulative rainfall crossed 500mm in 84 hours at several stations, inundating chronic flood points like Hindmata, Dadar, Andheri and King’s Circle and slowing traffic and flights. Two deaths were reported in Mumbai on Monday one from a wall collapse and another by electrocution while a man who entered the Mithi River was missing, officials said.
In Marathwada, Nanded’s Mukhed tehsil is among the worst-hit, with a sudden spike in Lendi dam levels due to heavy inflows from Latur, Udgir and Karnataka, leaving multiple villages marooned and residents missing as rescue operations scale up. The district administration has called in the Army, while SDRF teams with boats have evacuated stranded residents from villages like Ravangaon and Hasnal. Across Marathwada, officials reported multiple fatalities, widespread village-level impact, and significant agricultural damage over recent days.
Alerts and closures
- IMD red alert remains in force for Mumbai and Thane with very heavy to extremely heavy rain likely; similar warnings are in place across parts of Raigad and other districts, with red/orange alerts expected in about half the state through Aug 21 per CM’s review.
- Schools and colleges are closed Tuesday in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and neighboring districts including Thane, Palghar and Raigad, per civic directives citing the red alert and flooding risk.
- Thane’s civic body specified the closure applies to all schools across mediums and managements; some notices require teachers and staff to report while students stay home.
Impact in Mumbai
Mumbai’s intense spells triggered waterlogging across arterial corridors and low-lying zones; local trains continued with delays, while airlines issued advisories due to waterlogged access roads and operational constraints at the airport. A landslide in Kalyan damaged houses without reported injuries amid day-long disruption across Thane, Palghar and Navi Mumbai. Despite drainage upgrades, known flooding hotspots remained submerged for hours under the deluge.
Situation in Marathwada (Nanded, Latur, Beed and beyond)
- Mukhed tehsil (Nanded) received about 206mm rain Sunday, swelling rivers and the Lendi dam and isolating multiple villages.
- CM Devendra Fadnavis said 225 people in Ravangaon were trapped, with priority evacuations done; more rescues continue in Bhaswadi, Bhingeli and Hasnal where dozens remained stranded but reported safe by officials.
- The Army has been deployed in Nanded for flood rescues; SDRF evacuated at least 21 people from Mukhed villages on Sunday.
- Across Marathwada since Aug 14, at least six deaths and 205 animal deaths were recorded in a preliminary loss survey, with 1,001 villages affected (844 in Nanded), and damage to hundreds of homes.
Statewide toll and damage
Officials and reports through Monday night said at least 6–7 deaths occurred across multiple districts, with several missing amid continuing rescue operations. The Chief Minister noted around 15 of 36 districts under red/orange alerts through Aug 21, around 800 villages affected in Marathwada, and roughly 4,00,000 hectares of farmland impacted; separate divisional figures estimate 2.80 lakh hectares hit as assessments proceed.
Official guidance and forecast
- The IMD’s all-India and Mumbai center bulletins highlight moderate-to-high flash flood risk in parts of Maharashtra and warn of localized inundation, urban flooding, and risks from falling trees and weak structures during intense spells.
- CM Fadnavis urged residents to exercise caution, especially with high tides and forecast intense showers over the next three days across multiple districts.
What to watch next
- Continuation of red and orange alerts and nowcasts through Aug 21 as newer bands move inland.
- Evacuation progress in Mukhed’s worst-hit villages and updates on the missing in Nanded region.
- BMC and district directives on staggered office timings, transport diversions, and school reopening decisions.
