Maharashtra was battered by relentless monsoon rainfall on 4 July, with Mumbai recording 60 per cent of its average monthly July rainfall in just the first three days of the month. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts, with severe downpours forecast to continue until 6 July. Authorities have urged citizens to step out only if absolutely necessary.

Disruptions Across Mumbai

The deluge has turned low-lying areas into virtual lakes, triggering severe waterlogging, road cave-ins, and tree-fall incidents across the city. The Andheri Subway was temporarily shut due to flooding, with traffic between the East and West suburbs diverted to alternative routes. Severe waterlogging near Rolta Junction in Andheri MIDC and outside SEEPZ Gate No 2 choked traffic heading toward the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR).

Mumbai's local train network — the city's lifeline — suffered major disruptions. Waterlogged tracks at Nalasopara station forced Western Railway to run trains at restricted speed, causing delays of 15 to 20 minutes and triggering massive overcrowding at stations during peak hours.

Neighbouring Districts: Submerged Markets and Stranded Families

Dombivli railway station and its surrounding markets were completely submerged, with floodwaters entering shops and inflicting heavy financial losses on local traders. In Mumbra, 88.84 mm of rain fell in just 6 hours, inundating shops in the Amrit Nagar locality. In the Mithagar settlement of Vasai, waist-deep water on roads trapped approximately 150 families and over 1,000 residents. Mahavitaran, the state power utility, preemptively cut electricity supply in affected areas to prevent electrical hazards.

In Navi Mumbai, the premium Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) market was completely flooded, bringing grain, spice, and vegetable trading to a halt. Traders alleged negligence and poor drainage management, with some warning of losses running into millions of rupees. The absence of municipal officials on-site drew sharp resentment from the trading community.

Landslides, River Breaches, and Blocked Highways

According to government sources, torrential rain in Pali and Nagothane in Raigad district caused the Amba River to breach its danger level. The bridge at the Bherav-Khuravle diversion went underwater, severing road connectivity to several villages including Mahagaon, Waghoshi, Bherav, and Tadgaon.

A massive landslide struck Ingloon Ghat in Junnar taluka, blocking the highway with debris and mud. No casualties were reported; JCBs were deployed to clear the wreckage while two-way traffic was managed through a single lane. Multiple ghat routes into the Konkan region were hit by mudslides and falling rocks, prompting authorities to warn travellers against non-essential monsoon journeys. The Panchganga River in Kolhapur district is rising rapidly, raising fresh flood concerns.

Dam Storage at Critically Low Levels

Despite the intensity of the rainfall, Maharashtra's water storage remains surprisingly deficient compared to the previous year. The state's 3,028 large, medium, and small dam projects collectively hold 10,443 million cubic metres of live storage — just 25.56 per cent of total capacity. On the same date last year, storage stood at a significantly healthier 49.76 per cent, underscoring the scale of the deficit heading into this monsoon season.

Government Response and Advisory

The state emergency centre and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have urged residents to monitor official railway and traffic updates before travelling. Emergency services are conducting round-the-clock water-pumping and relief operations across affected areas. With the IMD warning of continued heavy rainfall through 6 July, authorities say the situation in coastal and low-lying districts remains fluid and closely monitored.