Monsoon Fury Batters Maharashtra: Lightning Kills 4, Floods Wreak Havoc Across Mumbai, Konkan, And Western Districts

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Mumbai: Maharashtra came under a torrential assault of the monsoon on Monday, as relentless rains lashed Mumbai and several other regions, causing widespread flooding, tragic fatalities, and large-scale disruptions. The downpour — part of the earliest monsoon onset in over 30 years — inundated roads, rail tracks, and bridges across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and parts of Konkan and western Maharashtra, forcing the evacuation of hundreds.

The deluge has claimed at least five lives so far, with four victims struck dead by lightning and one person drowning. Another remains missing after being swept away by floodwaters.

Among the deceased was 30-year-old farmer Roshan Kalekar, who was struck by lightning while working in his field in Karjat, Raigad. In Latur’s Ahmedpur tehsil, two more farmers — Vikram Karale and Ranjanabai Samudhay — were killed in similar lightning strikes, while six others sustained burn injuries in different incidents.

A 16-year-old boy, Yash Late, lost his life in Kalyan when lightning struck during a thunderstorm. In a related tragedy, four calves were killed after lightning hit a cowshed in the same region.

Another fatality occurred near Ambernath, where 30-year-old Avinash Bhoir drowned while swimming in the Chikhloli dam. In Ratnagiri’s Dapoli tehsil, 48-year-old Rajendra Kolambe was swept away while crossing a bridge on his bicycle, according to Hindustan Times, which cited official reports.

Low-lying regions bore the brunt of flooding in Ratnagiri, Raigad, Solapur, Pune, and Satara districts. The Ulhas river near Badlapur rose above warning levels, while the Jagbudi river in Ratnagiri surged past the danger mark, submerging villages, temples, and vast stretches of farmland. In Nashik’s Sinnar tehsil, heavy rains led to significant crop losses, with onion farmers reporting devastating damage.

To bolster rescue and relief efforts, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed 10 teams across the state, including three teams permanently based in Mumbai and another in Palghar. Additional units were sent to Solapur, Sangli, and Satara. These teams rescued 48 people from floodwaters in Pune, Solapur, and Satara, and saved five tourists stranded near the Pandav Kada waterfall in Kharghar.

As the crisis unfolded, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis convened a high-level review with Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, ordering round-the-clock vigilance and swift deployment of relief teams. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan visited the state control room, urging coordinated action across all agencies to mitigate further damage.

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