With heavy rainfall lashing several parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Konkan and Western Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday directed the state administration to immediately conduct Panchnama in the places where the damage has occurred and asked it to remain on high alert and ensure timely relief and rescue efforts. According to the CM’s office, Pune, Satara, Solapur, Raigad, Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) received heavy rain in the state, where Daund, Baramati and Indapur in Pune district received 117 mm, 104.75 mm and 63.25 mm rainfall, respectively. Phaltan in Satara district received 163.5 mm rainfall where a team of NDRF has been stationed. Nearly 30 people were trapped near Dudhebavi village near Phaltan who have been provided with accommodation and food facilities. In other parts of the state, 25 houses partially collapsed in Baramati, and seven persons trapped in the flood were rescued. Nearly 70 to 80 families have been shifted to a safe place. Disrupted mobile services are now being restored. In Indapur, two persons were rescued from the flood situation. A total of 13 NDRF and 2 SDRF teams have been deployed in the state. A total of 5 teams have been kept in Mumbai while a team each has been kept at Satara, Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur, Sangli and Solapur. One each SDR team has been deployed at Nanded and Gadchiroli. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar toured rural Pune throughout Monday to monitor rainfall conditions and held telephonic consultations with district collectors from the affected districts to assess the ongoing relief operations and issued instructions to conduct damage assessments of crops, livestock and homes. He emphasized that state and district-level officials should remain vigilant, maintain close coordination and act promptly in rescue and relief work. Fadnavis on Monday directed the Chief Secretary as well as various disaster management agencies to be alert and prepared. He also gave various instructions to the NDRF - SDRF, fire, revenue administration and home department etc. to take urgent measures and be prepared for relief and rescue through control rooms. The Chief Minister has also directed to maintain continuous coordination with the Water Resources Department. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast intense rainfall in the coming hours, particularly in coastal and western regions. In view of this, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde held a review meeting on the situation in rain-hit districts, including Thane, and interacted with disaster management officials to assess preparedness. After visiting the disaster management room at the BMC headquarters, he also visited state government’s State Emergency Operation Centre on Monday afternoon. “We have not claimed that 100 per cent nullah cleaning was over. The work was in progress when Mumbai faced heavy rainfall. It is true that people have experienced some problems, but the situation is coming back on track,” Shinde said. Emphasising the need to prevent any loss of life or property, he instructed officials to keep all emergency response systems fully equipped and operational. “Ensure swift and effective rescue operations wherever needed. Pay special attention to waterlogged roads, bridges, power lines, and dangerous or dilapidated buildings,” he said. Districts such as Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, and Nashik are currently experiencing heavy rains. IMD records show that at 295 mm, the Colaba observatory in Mumbai has now recorded the highest rainfall in May, shattering the previous record of 279.4 mm reported in May 1918. “Every effort must be made to avoid disruption to daily life. All concerned departments should act swiftly and in coordination,” he said, adding that the state government is closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary steps to safeguard the public. Shinde highlighted the need to maintain suburban rail services in cities like Mumbai and Thane, and to manage crowd movement in case of disruptions. The Deputy CM urged citizens to follow weather advisories and remain cautious, especially those residing in low-lying areas. “The administration is fully prepared to assist, but public cooperation is equally important,” he added. Shinde also stressed the need to evacuate residents from structurally unsafe buildings and ensure smooth suburban rail operations in areas like Mumbai and Thane. “In case of major obstructions, prompt assistance should be provided to commuters. Rescue and relief teams must respond quickly wherever needed,” he said.
