Mumbai and its neighbouring districts were placed on red alert on Monday as relentless rain battered Maharashtra for the third straight day. Authorities ordered the closure of schools in Palghar after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of extremely heavy rainfall across the Konkan belt and parts of western Maharashtra.
According to officials, the IMD placed Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Pune and Nashik under red alert, the highest level of warning in its four-tier system. Orange alerts were sounded in districts including Ratnagiri, Satara and Jalgaon, while yellow alerts extended across much of Marathwada and Vidarbha. The warnings are expected to remain in force till at least October 3. The city recorded close to 50 mm of rainfall in five hours on Sunday, overwhelming parts of the drainage network and leaving several low-lying neighbourhoods waterlogged. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation reported that the island city received 47.47 mm of rainfall between 8 am and 1 pm, while the eastern suburbs logged 37.92 mm and the western suburbs 53.61 mm in the same period.
Neighbouring Thane and Palghar districts faced even more severe conditions. In Bhiwandi taluka, nearly 262 residents had to be evacuated from flood-prone areas in the last 24 hours. With the IMD flagging the likelihood of isolated extremely heavy rainfall in Palghar, the district administration ordered a day-long closure of government, private and aided schools, including Anganwadis, to protect children and staff. Teachers and school administrators were instructed to remain alert and coordinate with emergency services if required. The intensity of rainfall across Maharashtra has already led to multiple fatalities. Official reports confirmed five deaths in the last 24 hours, including two in Ahilyanagar and one each in Nashik, Jalna and Yavatmal. More than 11,000 people have been shifted to relief shelters, with Marathwada alone accounting for 7,200 evacuations.
Senior officials said dam water levels are being monitored closely, with controlled discharges initiated to ease pressure on reservoirs. The administration has also urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, stay indoors during peak rainfall, and follow municipal advisories. Local authorities have stressed that heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds up to 40 kmph is likely to persist across the ghats and central Maharashtra for several days. Weather experts noted that the present rain activity highlights both the growing unpredictability of the monsoon and the pressure it places on urban systems. Mumbai’s stormwater drains and coastal districts continue to face the recurring challenge of flooding, raising questions on sustainable urban planning and climate resilience.
As the city braces for another spell of heavy downpour, officials maintain that while emergency measures are in place, long-term solutions will depend on strengthening drainage networks, climate-adaptive housing, and reducing urban vulnerabilities. For now, the priority remains safeguarding lives and ensuring communities are sheltered from the monsoon’s intensifying grip.
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