Maharashtra is grappling with an unexpected deluge, as heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms have swept through several regions, including Mumbai and Pune. While this sudden weather shift offers a brief respite from the sweltering summer heat, it has also led to significant disruptions, with flooded roads causing severe traffic jams for daily commuters.
The Meteorological Department has forecasted similar weather conditions for the next four days, issuing yellow and orange alerts across the state. Since Tuesday evening, areas like Powai in Mumbai have experienced near standstill traffic due to the relentless downpour. Trees have been uprooted near the Climate Complex,further obstructing movement. The Andheri subway has been submerged, prompting a team from the Brihanmumbai municipal Corporation to deploy drainage machines for water removal. Pune is facing similar challenges, with waterlogging reported even at the airport. In Thane district, reports of heavy lightning and landslides have emerged between Mira-Bhayandar and Ratnagiri’s Veravali and Vilavarde stations.
Consequently, services on the Konkan Railway have been disrupted. The regional weather office in Mumbai has indicated that a cyclone has formed in the eastern-central Arabian Sea, off the Karnataka coast, which is expected to bring continued thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across vast areas of Maharashtra from Wednesday through Saturday. The situation underscores the urgent need for effective urban planning and infrastructure resilience in the face of increasingly erratic weather patterns.
