Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 7: Torrential monsoon showers continued to pound large parts of Maharashtra over the past 24 hours, triggering flooding, swollen rivers, weather-related deaths and widespread disruption, according to the latest situation report released by the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) on Tuesday.
Palghar emerged as the worst-affected district, recording the state's highest rainfall of 203.3 mm during the period. Heavy showers also drenched Thane (116.4 mm) and Raigad (108.7 mm), while Mumbai Suburban received 90.4 mm of rainfall and Pune recorded 70.9 mm.
Continuous rainfall has pushed several rivers in the Konkan region above critical levels. The Amba, Savitri and Jagbudi rivers have crossed the danger mark, while the Kundalika and Pinjal rivers have risen above the warning level, raising concerns over possible flooding in low-lying areas.
The adverse weather claimed two lives in separate incidents. A person died in a landslide in Satara district, while another lost their life after being struck by lightning in Nandurbar. Tree-fall incidents left one person injured each in Mumbai city and Thane.
Heavy rain also caused damage to livestock. In Satara, four animals were killed after a wall collapsed, while floodwaters in Palghar swept away and killed 11 animals. No human casualties were reported from Palghar.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a Red Alert for high waves along the entire Maharashtra coastline, valid until the night of July 8.
Authorities warned that wave heights could reach between 4.8 and 5 metres along the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg coasts, while Thane, Mumbai and Raigad are expected to witness waves of 4.2 to 4.5 metres. In Palghar, wave heights are forecast to range between 3.7 and 3.9 metres.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, and all recreational activities near the shoreline have been suspended due to the heightened risk of strong waves, coastal erosion and dangerous sea conditions.
Despite the heavy rainfall, reservoir levels across Maharashtra remain relatively low. Water storage in the state's dams currently stands at 32.62 per cent of total capacity, compared to 46.57 per cent during the same period last year. The Konkan division has the highest reservoir storage, with water levels reaching 68.52 per cent of capacity.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has continued weather alerts for several regions. Nashik and Palghar remain under nowcast warnings for the afternoon, while Orange Alerts are in effect for Bhandara and Gondia over the next 24 hours. Several districts in the Vidarbha region continue under Yellow Alert as authorities remain on standby for possible flood response and emergency rescue operations.