Maharashtra Faces Severe Flooding as Monsoon Rains Intensify

Rainfall activity in Maharashtra has escalated significantly as a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression. This system, which formed off the coast of northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha, moved inland on August 15, 2023, and is currently centered over south interior Odisha. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns that the depression is likely to track west-northwest across south Odisha and south Chhattisgarh before weakening into a well-marked low-pressure area within the next 12 hours.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is now affecting various regions, particularly Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra. The IMD has issued a red warning for these areas, effective until August 20. Since August 15, at least 21 fatalities have been reported due to rain-related incidents across the state, according to officials from the State Disaster Management Authority.

Rescue Operations Underway Amid Rising Waters

In response to the extreme weather, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to Mori village in Palghar, where approximately 120 residents were evacuated to safety with the help of local authorities and fire brigade personnel. Rescue efforts are also ongoing in Sawantpada, where around 44 individuals are being relocated. In the Mukhed taluka of Nanded district, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has moved 293 people to safer locations.

The heavy rains have necessitated evacuations in multiple districts. In Thane, 610 people have been relocated as a precaution, while 497 individuals in Palghar and five in Ratnagiri have also been moved to safety. Rising river levels have compounded the situation, with officials reporting that the Jagbudi River in Ratnagiri has surpassed the danger mark. Other rivers, including the Vashishthi, Shastri, Kajli, Kodavli, and Bavnadi, have also exceeded their warning levels.

Authorities have raised alerts as rivers such as the Amba in Raigad and the Ulhas in Thane are flowing above the warning levels, particularly at Jambhulpada and Badlapur.

Recent Rainfall Totals and Impacts

The intense rainfall has led to significant flooding in various parts of the state, with several stations recording triple-digit rainfall totals. Notably, Gaganbawada in Kolhapur received 260 mm, Radhanagari (Kolhapur) recorded 220 mm, and Mahabaleshwar in Satara received 170 mm in the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning.

From 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Tuesday, significant rainfall continued across Maharashtra. For instance, Shivajinagar in Pune saw 41.4 mm of rain, while Mahabaleshwar recorded 144 mm. In the Konkan region, Santacruz in Mumbai experienced 163 mm, Dahanu received 131 mm, and Ratnagiri reported 37 mm.

The severity of the situation is underscored by the recent confirmation of at least six rain-related deaths within the past 24 hours, including five drownings and one wall collapse. Authorities are also searching for at least five missing individuals linked to the heavy rainfall.

As the monsoon continues to impact Maharashtra, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of residents and mitigating the risks associated with the severe weather conditions.