Mumbai and Pune, Maharashtra’s largest urban centres, were caught in uncertainty on Monday as persistent heavy rainfall triggered weather alerts but no official announcement was made on school closures. Parents and students remained anxious as city administrations evaluated the evolving situation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Mumbai, warning of moderate to heavy rainfall with isolated intense spells, while Pune was placed under a red alert following heavy overnight showers. Despite these warnings, civic officials clarified that no blanket directive had been issued for school holidays in either city. Instead, families were advised to remain in touch with school administrations for updates. In Mumbai, heavy rain since early morning disrupted traffic across key corridors, leaving parents worried about the safe commute of children. With many areas reporting waterlogging and slowed public transport, the call for school closures grew stronger on social media. However, municipal officials insisted that the situation did not warrant an immediate shutdown, though contingency measures were being monitored closely.
Pune’s case was more severe, as the city recorded intense rainfall late on Sunday night and into the early hours of Monday. The IMD’s red alert, issued around 4 AM, pointed to the possibility of extremely heavy showers in parts of the district. Yet, education authorities stopped short of suspending classes, stating that further rainfall assessments would guide any final decision. Experts on urban resilience stressed that repeated disruptions caused by unpredictable weather underline the need for long-term planning. Schoolchildren and their families remain among the most vulnerable groups when rains coincide with peak travel hours. The absence of clear guidelines on rain-induced closures adds to the confusion, particularly in a state that experiences recurring monsoon-related crises every year.
Officials acknowledged that balancing education continuity with safety is challenging. While precautionary holidays can avoid risks for students, unplanned closures disrupt academic schedules, especially as schools try to recover from learning setbacks during the pandemic. Administrators said any decision must weigh both immediate safety and broader educational priorities. The IMD forecasts suggest that rainfall will persist in Konkan and ghat regions of Maharashtra through the week, with varying intensity. With Mumbai under orange alert and Pune under red alert, both cities are likely to witness continued public concern until clearer advisories are issued.
For now, schools in both Mumbai and Pune remain open, though the possibility of sudden closures remains on the table depending on how the weather develops. For parents, the uncertainty serves as a stark reminder of how climate disruptions increasingly shape everyday urban life.
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