Maharashtra Drowns: Six Dead, Crops Submerged, Fadnavis Warns of Worsening Disaster

Mumbai: Maharashtra is battling one of its harshest monsoon spells this season, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sounding a grave warning that the next 48 hours will be “decisive for the state’s safety.” After an emergency review with disaster management officials, Fadnavis placed Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg under maximum alert, directing authorities to begin mass evacuations in low-lying areas.

The torrential downpour has triggered flash floods, landslides, and widespread waterlogging, leaving entire regions paralysed. Six people have lost their lives in rain-related tragedies so far, while rescue teams have managed to save over 290 stranded residents in Nanded. NDRF, SDRF, and Army units remain on the ground, working relentlessly to clear blocked routes and ferry marooned citizens to safety.

In the Konkan belt, Raigad district alone has witnessed more than 160 mm rainfall in 24 hours, pushing rivers past danger levels and forcing schools to shut down. Landslides in Mahad and Nagothane have left highways cut off, choking critical road connectivity.

Western Maharashtra is also reeling as the Panchganga River once again surged above the danger mark after the Radhanagari Dam was forced to release 11,500 cusecs of water. The Kolhapur–Ratnagiri highway has been buried under multiple landslides, cutting off supply chains.

Vidarbha and Marathwada are facing a grim situation, with over 50 villages in Gadchiroli’s Bhamragad taluka completely isolated after the Perlkota River burst its banks. In Washim, swollen streams have swept through kharif farmlands, wiping out thousands of hectares of crops. A 19-year-old boy tragically drowned in Kodpe village while trying to cross a flooded stream.

Authorities fear the worst is yet to come as major dams — including Koyna, Radhanagari, and Chandoli — have started controlled discharges, putting downstream settlements at risk of sudden flooding. The IMD has attributed the extreme spell to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, warning that very heavy rainfall will continue in Konkan, central Maharashtra, and parts of Vidarbha.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar admitted that nearly 10 lakh hectares of farmland are submerged, hinting at a massive loss of crops and livelihoods. He added that a detailed damage survey will only be possible after the rains ease.