Maharashtra heavy rain: Schools shut in Pune, WFH advisory for Mumbai on July 7
Synopsis
Maharashtra's monsoon turned severe on 7 July, forcing school shutdowns across Pune and a WFH advisory for Mumbai — but the deeper concern is the Bhima River's discharge hitting 97,700 cusecs at Daund and Ujani Dam absorbing a 4.25 TMC surge in 48 hours. With the IMD Orange Alert still active, the risk of flooding in low-lying areas along the river is real and rising.
Key Takeaways
The SDMA issued a work-from-home advisory for private offices in Mumbai and restricted non-essential government offices to half-day operations on 7 July .
All schools in Pune Municipal Corporation , Pimpri-Chinchwad , and Haveli Taluka were declared closed; staff ordered to report for disaster management duties.
The IMD has issued an Orange Alert for Mumbai; the city recorded nearly 300 mm of rain in 48 hours , eastern suburbs 380 mm , western suburbs 345 mm .
Bhima River discharge at Daund reached 97,700 cusecs , raising flood concerns in low-lying areas.
Ujani Dam storage rose by 4.25 TMC in 48 hours, with inflow at 1,45,561 cusecs ; live storage improved from minus 27.96% to minus 20.21% .
The BMC has called a Special General Body Meeting on 9 July to review rain preparedness and emergency infrastructure.
Maharashtra was battered by torrential rainfall on Tuesday, 7 July, with incessant downpours disrupting daily life across several districts, including Mumbai and Pune. The Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) issued a work-from-home advisory for private offices in Mumbai and ordered non-essential government offices in the city to operate for only half the day.
School Holiday and Safety Directives
Pune District Collector and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority, Jitendra Dudi, declared a holiday for all primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools within the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, and Haveli Taluka. The closure covers Zilla Parishad schools, municipal schools, Ashramshalas, private aided and unaided institutions, English-medium schools, and all Anganwadi centres.
The decision was driven by continuous heavy rainfall, reports of landslides in the Ghat sections, and an active weather warning from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Notably, teaching and non-teaching staff have been directed to report to their schools and remain available to support local disaster management and emergency response efforts.
IMD Orange Alert and Mumbai Waterlogging
The IMD has issued an Orange Alert for the Mumbai region, warning of continued heavy rainfall. Several parts of Mumbai remained waterlogged following incessant showers over the past three days, triggering traffic congestion and widespread disruption. Over the past 48 hours, the city division recorded nearly 300 mm of rainfall; the eastern suburbs received around 380 mm and the western suburbs approximately 345 mm. Strong winds gusting between 70 and 80 kmph accompanied the downpours.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) activated its full emergency response machinery, deploying special teams to vulnerable locations to manage tree falls, short circuits, and structural collapses of dilapidated buildings. High-capacity dewatering pumps, suction equipment, and additional manpower have been pressed into service to clear waterlogged roads.
Rising River Levels and Dam Inflows
The continuous downpour has sharply raised the water level of the Bhima River. Authorities reported that the river's discharge at Daund reached 97,700 cusecs, raising concerns about a potential flood-like situation in low-lying areas. The surge is attributed to the release of large volumes of water from upstream dams following sustained rainfall across Pune district.
In Indapur, heavy rainfall over the Western Ghats has resulted in a massive inflow into the Ujani Dam, with approximately 1,45,561 cusecs of water currently flowing towards the reservoir through the Bhima River. Water storage at Ujani has risen by nearly 4.25 Thousand Million Cubic (TMC) over the last 48 hours. The dam's live storage, which stood at minus 27.96 per cent on 5 July, has improved to minus 20.21 per cent. The reservoir currently holds approximately 52.83 TMC of water. Officials said storage levels are expected to rise further if heavy rainfall over the Western Ghats continues.
BMC Emergency Response and What Comes Next
The BMC has convened a Special General Body Meeting on 9 July to discuss rain-related preparedness, infrastructure challenges, and emergency response measures in detail. The district administration has appealed to residents to remain vigilant and step out only if absolutely necessary until conditions improve.
With the IMD Orange Alert still in force and river discharge levels elevated, authorities across Maharashtra remain on high alert as the monsoon intensifies.
Point of View
Manageable layer of this crisis — the more urgent story is hydrological. A Bhima River discharge of 97,700 cusecs at Daund, combined with 1,45,561 cusecs pouring into Ujani Dam, puts low-lying communities in Indapur and downstream areas at genuine flood risk that a work-from-home advisory does not address. Maharashtra's dam-release protocols have historically drawn criticism for being reactive rather than pre-emptive, and the pattern here — releasing large volumes after sustained upstream rain — fits that mould. The BMC's Special General Body Meeting on 9 July will be a test of whether urban infrastructure accountability follows the emergency rhetoric.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were schools closed in Pune on 7 July 2025?
Schools across the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, and Haveli Taluka were closed on 7 July due to continuous heavy rainfall, landslide reports in the Ghat sections, and an IMD weather warning. Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi issued the holiday order to ensure student safety.
What is the WFH advisory issued for Mumbai?
The Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority advised private offices in Mumbai to allow employees to work from home on 7 July, given severe waterlogging and disruption caused by three consecutive days of heavy rain. Non-essential government offices were also directed to function for only half the day.
What is the flood risk along the Bhima River?
The Bhima River's discharge at Daund reached 97,700 cusecs on 7 July, raising concerns about flooding in low-lying areas. The surge is linked to large-scale water releases from upstream dams following sustained rainfall across Pune district.
What is the current status of Ujani Dam?
As of 7 July, Ujani Dam holds approximately 52.83 TMC of water, with live storage improving from minus 27.96 per cent on 5 July to minus 20.21 per cent. Around 1,45,561 cusecs of water is currently flowing into the reservoir through the Bhima River from Western Ghats rainfall.
What alert has the IMD issued for Mumbai?
The India Meteorological Department has issued an Orange Alert for the Mumbai region, warning of continued heavy rainfall. The city recorded nearly 300 mm of rain in 48 hours, with eastern suburbs receiving 380 mm and western suburbs 345 mm, accompanied by winds of 70–80 kmph.
