Maharashtra weather: Mumbai receives heavy rainfall amid red alert, Fadnavis reviews flood situation in Beed

Thane and Palghar districts near Mumbai experienced heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours, resulting in waterlogging, lightning strikes, and the collapse of some houses, officials reported on Sunday. The situation worsened as several dams began to overflow. In response, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert, warning of extremely heavy rainfall in Thane, Palghar, Mumbai, and Raigad districts throughout Sunday.

In case of flood-like situations, residents of the following districts are advised to contact the respective emergency numbers:

Dharashiv: 02472-227301
Beed: 02442-299299
Parbhani: 02452-226400
Latur: 02382-220204
Ratnagiri: 7057222233
Sindhudurg: 02362-228847
Pune: 9370960061
Solapur: 0217-2731012
Ahilyanagar: 0241-2323844
Nanded: 02462-235077
Raigad: 8275152363
Palghar: 02525-297474
Thane: 9372338827
Satara: 02162-232349
Mumbai City & Suburbs: 1916 / 022-69403344

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday reviewed the flood situation in Beed district with the District Collector. Officials reported that 17 dams in the district are full, while two others have reached over 90 per cent capacity, with water being released only from Majalgaon. Heavy rains in recent days have cut off contact with several villages in Wadwani taluka, where NDRF and Army teams have been deployed for rescue efforts. Around 48 mandals witnessed intense rainfall yesterday, and precautionary orders have been issued for villages along riverbanks, including possible relocation if required. So far, 2,567 families have been shifted to safety since September and 60 citizens from Ashti were recently evacuated. Tragically,

Despite the downpour, local train services on Central and Western Railways continued to operate, though with minor delays. Meanwhile, BEST buses ran on their regular routes without any diversions, minimising disruption for commuters.

Relief and safety measures

Civic officials said that rapid-response teams were mobilised citywide to manage waterlogging complaints and ensure that essential services continue without major disruption. The BMC emphasised that its machinery is actively working on-site, closely monitoring vulnerable areas to prevent escalation of flooding.

Issuing a statement, the BMC cautioned that low-lying areas could witness water accumulation due to the intensity of rainfall. To tackle potential flooding, all dewatering pumps have been activated round-the-clock, and emergency teams have been deployed across key locations.

Mumbai was drenched on Sunday (September 28) as continuous rains with intermittent heavy spells lashed the city. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), some western suburbs recorded over 50 mm rainfall within just five hours, between 8 am and 1 pm.

The Marathwada region, which has 483 revenue circles fitted with rain gauges, saw 189 circles record excess rainfall (above 65 mm in a day) within just 24 hours. Other districts badly affected include Beed, Nanded, and Parbhani, where continuous downpours and rising water have worsened the flood situation.

The continuous downpour forced authorities to lift all 27 gates of the Jayakwadi dam, discharging 1.41 lakh cusecs of water into the Godavari river. As a result, a flood warning was issued for villages along the Godavari’s banks, including Paithan.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, heavy rainfall disrupted road connectivity with Ahilyanagar as the Waluj area was flooded in the morning. The Harsul circle recorded 196 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, while Shivur and Borsar (Vaijapur taluka) recorded over 189 mm. Traffic movement was hit, stranding thousands.

Officials confirmed that more than 3,500 residents were shifted to safer locations after floodwaters inundated several parts of Dharashiv. The rising water levels were attributed to a discharge of 75,500 cusecs from the Sina Kolegaon dam, which left areas in Paranda severely affected. Relief efforts are now focusing on providing aid to displaced families as rain intensity has eased since last night.

Incessant rainfall took a tragic turn in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, where two people lost their lives in flood-hit Dharashiv district on Saturday. One victim drowned in floodwaters, while another succumbed to a separate rain-related incident in Omerga and Paranda talukas.

The government instructed people to take care of all essential things for flood protection. Seek help from local shelter centres to protect yourself from flood disasters and avoid unnecessary travel in flood situations.The government also advised residents not to cross roads when water is flowing over bridges of rivers and canals, and not to believe rumours.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared an update on social media platform X regarding the ongoing flood situation. He held discussions this morning with the district collectors of eight Marathwada districts, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Beed, Hingoli, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Dharashiv, and Parbhani, along with Solapur to review the rainfall and relief operations. During the review, he issued directives to ensure proper arrangements for food, water, and healthcare in relief camps. He also ordered immediate provision of fodder in districts facing shortages. With rising outflow from dams, he emphasized the need for timely relocation of citizens to safer areas, and further directed officials to remain on the ground and oversee relief efforts personally.

The Maharashtra government said that water-lifting pumps should be deployed in urban, low-lying areas. Similarly, necessary action should be taken to monitor low-lying areas. Necessary measures should be taken regarding CSSR for dangerous and old buildings. Repair teams, chain saws and feeder protection units should be deployed for electricity and road infrastructure. 

Water has been drained out from the Andheri subway in Mumbai, and it has now been reopened for vehicular traffic, easing movement in the area after the earlier waterlogging.

Civic officials warned that there will be a high tide of 3.24 metres at 2.55 pm today, which could worsen waterlogging conditions if heavy rain coincides with the tide. The low tide at 8.50 pm (1.31 metres) is expected to aid in the drainage of excess water from city streets. With the IMD maintaining its red alert for Mumbai and adjoining districts, citizens have been urged to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary travel, and stay updated through official advisories as the monsoon system continues to bring intense rainfall to the region.

The IMD has forecast cloudy skies with heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40–50 kmph across Mumbai and its suburbs. The weather bureau also warned of the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations. The ‘red alert’ does not just cover Mumbai but has also been extended to Raigad, Thane, and Palghar districts.

According to officials, local trains on the Central and Western Railway lines were running but with minor delays due to the weather conditions. However, BEST buses were operating smoothly without any diversions, bringing some relief to commuters.

Mumbai witnessed heavy overnight rainfall on Saturday (September 27) under the impact of a ‘red alert’ issued by the India Meteorological Department. While the intensity reduced by early Sunday morning (September 28), light to moderate showers with intermittent heavy spells continued in parts of the city and suburbs.

IMD updated its forecast, stating that compared to the coastal belt and parts of north Konkan, the rest of the state, including north Maharashtra, central Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha, is likely to receive only low-intensity rainfall on Sunday.

Government has also provided emergency contact numbers of the districts, where a possible flood situation is likely to arise-Dharashiv 02472-227301, Beed-02442-299299, Parbhani- 02452-226400, Latur - 02382- 220204, Ratnagiri- 705722233, Sindhudurg-02362- 228847, Pune- 9370960061, Solapur- 0217-2731012, Ahilyanagar 0241-2323844, Nanded-02462-235077, Raigad- 8275152363, Palghar- 02525- 297474, Thane- 9372338827, Satara- 02162- 232349, Mumbai city and suburbs- 1916/022- 69403344. 

With a red alert in effect, the government has urged all citizens to remain vigilant against flooding, landslides, and lightning hazards, and to strictly follow official advisories. Disaster management teams remain on standby to tackle emergencies as monsoon rains continue to batter Maharashtra.

In Aglagaon village of Barshi taluka, Solapur, the flooding of the Chandni River has forced farmers and local residents to risk their lives while traveling through the strong water currents. With livestock stranded in fields, people are compelled to wade through the dangerous floodwaters to protect them. Continuous rainfall has also caused heavy damage to crops including soybean, black gram (urad), and onions, deepening the crisis for farmers in the region.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the next three hours covering Mumbai, Raigad, and Palghar districts. Along with heavy rainfall, the forecast also warns of strong winds and lightning strikes in these areas.

A dramatic incident occurred near Tapse Chincholi village in Ousa taluka of Latur district, Maharashtra, when Salim Pathan and his son Azhar Pathan were on their way to the fields. Despite the strong water current over the Gadhvewadi bridge, they attempted to cross it on a motorcycle. The powerful flow dragged the bike, and Azhar was swept away by the current. As onlookers shouted for him to grab onto something, Azhar managed to hold onto a tree branch after being carried a considerable distance. Meanwhile, a few brave youths from the opposite side rushed in and pulled him out to safety. Authorities have once again warned residents not to attempt crossing bridges during heavy water flow.

Heavy flooding in the Waluj locality of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has caused severe damage to vehicles and thrown normal life into disarray. The overflowing drain near Sara Venkatesh Society in CIDCO Waluj Metropolis led to water gushing into residential colonies, leaving the residents struggling to cope with inundated homes and disrupted daily activities.

(With inputs from Sameer Bhise) 

Parallel to the ongoing IMD alerts, the Marathwada region has faced widespread damage this monsoon season (June 1–September 25).

• 86 deaths reported across eight districts, with the highest (26) in Nanded.
• 1,725 animal deaths, including 569 in Nanded alone.
• 2.3 million hectares of crops damaged by floods and heavy rains, affecting nearly 2.9 million farmers.
• Over 5,893 villages hit by flooding-related damage.

Mumbai recorded 30.07 mm of rainfall in the island city in the last 24 hours (ending 8:00 am Saturday), while the eastern suburbs reported 26.12 mm and the western suburbs 9.99 mm. While traffic remained largely unaffected during the day, local train services saw delays, a common occurrence during intense monsoon spells.

The government has also circulated emergency helpline numbers across multiple districts, including Mumbai (1916/022-69403344), Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Nanded and others, to assist during flood-related emergencies.

Authorities have strongly advised citizens to-

1. Avoid flood-prone and low-lying areas.
2. Stay away from rivers, canals, and bridges during heavy rains.
3. Refrain from sheltering under trees during lightning.
4. Seek immediate safety in local shelter centres if needed.
5. Avoid unnecessary travel and tourism until conditions improve.

The warnings will be disseminated via SMS, social media, and local media to keep citizens informed of emergency developments. 

Officials have ordered round-the-clock functioning of control rooms, deployment of water-lifting pumps, close monitoring of river flow and dam discharge levels, and pre-positioning of repair teams and disaster equipment such as chain saws and power units.

In view of the IMD forecast, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) has directed all district administrations to be on high alert until September 30. The government has warned of risks including urban flooding in low-lying areas of Mumbai and Konkan districts, landslides in ghat regions, and potential flash floods.

The IMD stated that while the Konkan belt and adjoining north Maharashtra may face extreme weather, the rest of the state—including central Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha—is likely to receive only low-intensity showers during this period.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai and adjoining districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall on Sunday, September 28. The alert includes Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri, with the possibility of very intense and continuous spells in some areas. Districts such as Sindhudurg, and the ghat regions of Nashik are also expected to be lashed by heavy rain.