Mumbai Rains: IMD Issues Red Alert; Schools Shut, Pune-Mumbai Links Severed

Moneylife Digital Team 06 July 2026

Economy & Nation

The India meteorological department (IMD) on Monday upgraded its weather warning for Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts to a red alert, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by winds of 70kmph-80kmph (kilometres per hour), as relentless monsoon showers disrupted normal life across large parts of Maharashtra.

The weather office advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel as severe weather conditions were expected to persist throughout the day. Palghar district remains under an orange alert, with a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds.

The IMD upgraded the warning after observing a deterioration in weather conditions during the morning.

Transport Disrupted

Heavy rainfall and waterlogging severely disrupted road and rail connectivity between Mumbai and Pune.

Traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune highway was suspended following flooding and landslides, prompting the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to advise people against travelling between the two cities until further notice.

PUBLIC APPEAL

Due to a landslide and continuous heavy rainfall, traffic movement on both the Pune–Mumbai Expressway and the old Mumbai–Pune Highway has been severely affected.

Traffic in both directions (Pune–Mumbai and Mumbai–Pune) has been stopped until further notice.…
— MSRDCofficial (@MSRDC_official) July 6, 2026

"Citizens are requested not to undertake any journey between Pune and Mumbai until further directions are issued," the MSRDC said, urging commuters to postpone travel plans and follow official traffic advisories.

मिसिंग लिंकवर durability चेक करण्यासाठी खड्डे पडले होते, मग आज durability चेक करण्यासाठी दरड कोसळली आहे का?

मिसिंग लिंकच्या कामात केवळ दलाली आणि भ्रष्टाचाराची लिंक झाल्याने सुरक्षाच मिसिंग झाली आहे. गेल्या चार-पाच दिवसात पुण्यापासून मुंबईपर्यंत पावसाने या नतभ्रष्ट सरकारच्या… pic.twitter.com/snzHebMKxu
— Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) July 6, 2026

Police said flood-like conditions had developed in parts of Maval and Tamhini Ghat, affecting alternative routes between Pune and Mumbai.

Rail services were also disrupted after stones and mud washed onto tracks at several locations between Khandala, Monkey Hill and Thakurvadi.

Central Railway suspended train operations on the affected section, resulting in the cancellation of several Mumbai-Pune and Pune-Mumbai services.

Train services between Karjat and Khopoli have been suspended because of the heavy rains and subsequent water flow causing the ballast washout. This was identified by alert staff and resources are being mobilised to restore the section and services. pic.twitter.com/pd3ZKlqlel
— Central Railway (@Central_Railway) July 6, 2026

Suburban rail services on a section in Raigad were also affected, while waterlogging slowed vehicular traffic across Mumbai and neighbouring districts.

Additionally, 17 flights have been cancelled and 217 delayed at Mumbai airport due to incessant rainfall. According to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSIA), cancellations and delays were reported between 12am and 11:30am on 6 July 2026.

Schools, Colleges Shut; Mumbai University Exams Postponed

In view of the worsening weather, authorities declared a holiday on Monday for all government, private and civic-run schools and colleges in Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Palghar districts.

The University of Mumbai also postponed all examinations scheduled for Monday as a precautionary measure.

The University said revised examination dates would be announced later, adding that the decision had been taken in the interest of students' safety.

6 Killed in Mankhurd Chawl Collapse

The heavy rains also claimed lives after a three-storey kutcha chawl collapsed in Mumbai's Mankhurd area on Sunday night.

Officials said six people—five children and a woman—were killed, while one person was injured after two to three tenements in the three-storey chawl collapsed around 8.30pm in Janta Nagar near Hanuman Temple.

Several residents were trapped under the debris.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Mumbai Fire Brigade, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), local police and ambulance services carried out rescue operations before shifting the injured and affected residents to hospitals in Govandi and Ghatkopar.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited Govandi Hospital after the incident, met the families of the deceased and expressed condolences.

Other Rain-related Deaths

In another incident on Sunday, a 63-year-old man, Yunus Kundawala, died after a tree fell on a shop in Kurla West.

He was taken to Fauzia Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The BMC has announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to his family.

On Saturday, 18-year-old Hasan Raza Jahangir Alam Syed died after a tree branch fell on the motorcycle he was riding in Aarey Colony. He had reportedly visited the area with friends during the monsoon. Police have registered an accidental death report (ADR).

BMC Urges Residents To Stay Indoors

Following the IMD's red alert, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) urged residents to remain indoors unless travel was absolutely essential.

The civic body advised people to stay away from trees, dilapidated buildings, hoardings, electric poles and other potentially hazardous structures.

Important Public Interest Notice

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'Red Alert' Mumbai accompanying with (speed 70 to 80 kmph).

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) urges all citizens to avoid stepping out of their homes unless absolutely…
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) July 6, 2026

It also appealed to residents not to park vehicles beneath trees and to avoid beaches, low-lying areas and waterlogged locations.

BMC urged citizens to rely only on official information and ignore rumours circulating on social media.

The corporation said around 15,000 BMC officers and staff, along with personnel from other agencies, had been deployed across the city and were working round the clock, while senior officials continued to monitor the evolving situation.

Residents requiring emergency assistance have been advised to contact the BMC helpline on 1916.

The IMD has forecast more heavy rainfall during the day, and authorities have urged people to exercise caution and avoid non-essential travel until weather conditions improve.

A large hoarding installation collapsed on Pokhran Road no2 in Thane city due to strong monsoon winds, severely affecting traffic movement in the area. Civic teams promptly arrived at the scene to clear the debris. No injuries or casualties were reported, though some vehicles sustained damage.

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