Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan on Monday, 6 July urged citizens across the state to avoid monsoon tourism and unnecessary travel as relentless heavy rainfall triggered a red alert across several districts, including Mumbai, Raigad, Palghar, and Pune. The minister warned that authorities would enforce strict restrictions if residents continued to disregard official safety advisories. At least six people have lost their lives in Mankhurd, underscoring the severity of the weather event.

What the Minister Said

'The state is experiencing an exceptionally high volume of rainfall. Roads and railway routes have been shut down, and the Pune-Mumbai transport corridor is closed. Schools have been ordered to remain closed. A Disaster Management meeting has been convened at the Mantralaya in Mumbai. I strictly advise citizens against stepping out for tourism or sightseeing in Mumbai. We will announce further decisions shortly,' said Girish Mahajan.

The minister also flagged the danger of venturing outdoors amid extreme wind conditions. 'Wind speeds have reached 70 to 90 km/h, causing trees to uproot across Mumbai. Despite this, people are gathering in crowds outdoors — please do not do this,' he added.

Fatalities and Waterfall Incidents

Mahajan specifically cautioned against visits to waterfalls, a popular but dangerous monsoon activity in Maharashtra. 'Some people went to waterfalls recently and unfortunately lost their lives. If citizens do not listen to warnings, we will have to strictly enforce restrictions,' he said. The confirmed death toll stands at six in Mankhurd, with further casualties possible as rescue operations continue.

This is not an isolated pattern — waterfall-related fatalities during Maharashtra's monsoon season have been reported repeatedly in recent years, with tourist hotspots near Pune and the Sahyadri range consistently drawing visitors despite active weather warnings.

Key Disruptions Across the Region

Traffic on the Pune-Mumbai corridor has been severely disrupted. The districts of Raigad, Palghar, Mumbai, and Pune are bearing the brunt of the downpours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), with wind speeds expected to reach 80 to 90 km/h. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reiterated these warnings and urged residents to stay indoors.

Work-From-Home and Office Directives

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has issued specific instructions for Mumbai. Private offices have been urged to enable work-from-home (WFH) arrangements wherever feasible. Government offices, excluding essential services, will operate on a half-day basis. The SDMA has strongly advised citizens to avoid all non-essential travel and follow official updates closely.

Reservoir Levels and Outlook

Minister Mahajan noted that continuous rainfall has raised water levels in reservoirs, though catchment areas have not yet received the full volume required. Levels are expected to rise further over the coming days. The minister also appealed to the opposition to refrain from politicising the disaster response, saying, 'This is a natural disaster; please cooperate instead of indulging in politics.'

With the red alert in force through at least Tuesday and wind speeds forecast to remain dangerously high, authorities are expected to issue further advisories as conditions evolve.