17 NDRF teams deployed across Maharashtra as heavy rains trigger landslides, 6 dead
Synopsis
Maharashtra's monsoon crisis deepened on 6 July with six dead in a Mankhurd building collapse, three to four persons trapped under a landslide in Maval Taluka, and both the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the Mumbai-Goa highway shut. With 17 NDRF teams deployed and Red Alerts active across Lonavala, Matheran, Khopoli, and Lohagad — and rainfall at Lonavala already hitting 670 mm — the next 48 hours are critical.
Key Takeaways
Six persons were killed after a building collapsed onto a slum in Mankhurd , Mumbai , on 6 July .
17 NDRF teams have been pre-positioned across Maharashtra , including 4 in Mumbai ; 6 SDRF teams are also on standby.
A Red Alert has been issued for Matheran , Lonavala , Khopoli , and Lohagad due to heightened landslide risk.
The Mumbai–Goa National Highway and the Pune-Mumbai Expressway are both suspended due to landslides; the Pune-Mumbai railway line is also shut.
3–4 persons are reportedly trapped under a landslide at Patan, Maval Taluka ; rescue operations are ongoing.
Lonavala recorded 670 mm of rainfall — the highest figure reported — as the SEOC uses GEO-DSS for real-time risk assessments.
At least six people were killed and rescue operations are ongoing across Maharashtra on 6 July as intense monsoon rainfall triggered landslides, road closures, and building collapses, prompting the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) to deploy 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams at strategic locations statewide. Citizens have been urged to follow official advisories strictly as rainfall is expected to intensify further across several districts.
Deployment Across the State
For the ongoing monsoon season, 17 pre-positioned NDRF teams have been spread across Maharashtra. Four teams have been stationed in Mumbai, while two teams each have been placed at Palghar and Nagpur. Single teams have been deployed in Pune, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli, and Dharashiv.
In addition, six State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been kept ready for deployment — two each in Dhule and Nagpur, and one each in Nanded and Gadchiroli.
Rainfall Figures and Red Alert Zones
Rainfall recorded across the region has been exceptionally high. Lonavala logged 670 mm, Tamhini recorded 580 mm, and Ambona saw 537 mm. In Mumbai, Santacruz received 151.2 mm and Colaba recorded 128 mm. Other notable figures include 325 mm at Juhu Airport, 305 mm at Vibhag, 302 mm at Matheran, and 291.5 mm at Karjat.
A Red Alert has been issued for Matheran, Lonavala, Khopoli, and Lohagad, where the risk of landslides has increased considerably, according to the SEOC. The centre is also deploying the GEO-DSS (Geographic Information Systems Decision Support System) for real-time risk assessments and alert dissemination.
Road and Rail Disruptions
Traffic on the Mumbai–Goa National Highway has been suspended following a landslide at Kashedi Ghat. The old highway at Khopoli has been shut due to waterlogging. On the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, movement in both directions has been halted after a landslide on the Missing Link stretch.
Railway services between Monkey Hill and Thakurwadi have been suspended due to landslides, effectively closing the Pune-Mumbai railway line. Authorities say debris clearance and restoration work is underway on a war footing.
Rescues, Casualties, and Active Operations
In Mankhurd, a building collapsed onto a slum settlement, killing six persons and injuring one. Rescue operations are continuing at the site. At Patan in Maval Taluka, a house was buried under a landslide with three to four persons reportedly trapped beneath the debris; an NDRF team has been dispatched and rescue work is in progress.
At Ghorawadi in Maval Taluka (Talegaon Dabhade), a bus carrying 25 passengers was stranded in floodwaters. All passengers were rescued safely following NDRF intervention. Rescue operations across affected districts are being coordinated continuously with local administrations.
What Comes Next
With rainfall forecast to intensify further, authorities are closely monitoring vulnerable zones across Maharashtra. The SEOC has urged residents in Red Alert areas to avoid travel and remain alert to official updates. The coming 24 to 48 hours are expected to be critical for flood and landslide management across the Konkan coast and Western Ghats.
Point of View
With three to four more feared trapped under a landslide in Maval Taluka, points to simultaneous multi-front crises that stretch even a 17-team NDRF deployment thin. The suspension of both the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the Mumbai-Goa highway simultaneously is an economic disruption that compounds the humanitarian one. What the SEOC's GEO-DSS alerts cannot fix is the structural vulnerability of informal settlements in flood-prone zones — a policy gap that outlasts every monsoon season.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NDRF teams have been deployed in Maharashtra due to heavy rains?
A total of 17 NDRF teams have been pre-positioned across Maharashtra for the monsoon season, with 4 teams in Mumbai and 2 each at Palghar and Nagpur. An additional 6 SDRF teams are also on standby across Dhule, Nagpur, Nanded, and Gadchiroli.
Where has a Red Alert been issued in Maharashtra?
The State Emergency Operations Centre has issued a Red Alert for Matheran, Lonavala, Khopoli, and Lohagad due to a significantly elevated risk of landslides following extremely heavy rainfall in these areas.
What are the major road and rail disruptions caused by the Maharashtra rains?
The Mumbai–Goa National Highway is suspended after a landslide at Kashedi Ghat, and the Pune-Mumbai Expressway is shut in both directions due to a landslide on the Missing Link stretch. The Pune-Mumbai railway line is also closed after landslides between Monkey Hill and Thakurwadi; restoration work is ongoing.
What casualties have been reported so far in the Maharashtra floods?
Six persons died and one was injured after a building collapsed onto a slum settlement in Mankhurd, Mumbai. Separately, three to four persons are feared trapped under a landslide at Patan in Maval Taluka, with an NDRF team conducting rescue operations at the site.
What is the GEO-DSS system being used by Maharashtra's SEOC?
GEO-DSS stands for Geographic Information Systems Decision Support System. The State Emergency Operations Centre is using it to conduct detailed risk and vulnerability assessments in real time and to disseminate timely alerts to authorities and citizens in affected areas.
