6 dead, hundreds evacuated in rain-hit districts of Maharashtra; next 48 hours crucial, says CM

Mumbai, India – Relentless monsoon rains have unleashed devastation across Maharashtra, leaving at least six people dead, displacing hundreds, and damaging thousands of hectares of farmland over the past two days. Officials said Tuesday that multiple districts remain on high alert as floodwaters continue to rise and rescue operations intensify.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who reviewed the evolving situation with the state disaster management department, said the next 48 hours would be “extremely crucial” for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. “Our priority is saving lives. The administration is ensuring timely evacuation, monitoring vulnerable areas, and deploying rescue teams wherever needed,” he stated.

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The worst-hit regions include Gadchiroli, where incessant rainfall since Monday night has inundated low-lying villages. Over 50 settlements in Bhamragad taluka are cut off after the Perlkota River burst its banks, forcing the closure of the Bhamraga-Allapalli Highway. A 19-year-old youth from Kodpe village drowned after being swept away while attempting to cross a swollen stream.

In Nanded district, more than 290 residents stranded in flood-hit villages were rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) with assistance from Army personnel. Meanwhile, rivers in Washim district have been in spate for four consecutive days, causing large-scale submergence of kharif crops.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the torrential downpour to a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal coupled with the strengthening of monsoon currents. “A trough extending from north Konkan to Kerala has intensified, leading to very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Konkan, central Maharashtra, and the ghats,” said S. D. Sanap, senior scientist at IMD Pune. An orange alert has been issued for Konkan, Marathwada, and Vidarbha, with rainfall expected to ease to a yellow alert later in the week.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar warned that the damage to agriculture could be unprecedented. “Nearly 10 lakh hectares of farmland have gone under water. The rains have wiped out standing crops across multiple districts. We will begin a full-scale damage assessment once the weather stabilizes,” he said.

In western Maharashtra, heavy inflows forced the Radhanagari dam in Kolhapur to discharge 11,500 cusecs of water into the Bhogavati River, raising the Panchganga River above the danger mark for the fifth time this season. Landslides on the Kolhapur-Ratnagiri highway halted traffic for several hours, further isolating flood-hit communities.

The administration has urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant and cooperate with evacuation efforts. Relief camps have been set up in several districts, with food and medical aid being distributed.

Meteorologists caution that with the monsoon system still active, the risk of flash floods, landslides, and further crop loss remains high in parts of the state.

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