PUNE/MUMBAI: Three people died in rain-related incidents as relentless showers across the Mumbai–Pune region disrupted transport networks and normal life on Monday.Heavy rainfall led to waterlogged roads, uprooted trees and landslides, forcing the closure of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway and suspension of some train services.The newly opened ‘Missing Link’ section of the expressway also faced disruption during its first monsoon, news agency PTI reported.Two people were killed when their house was buried in a landslide at Patan village in Maval tehsil of Pune district. Another person died after being swept away on a flooded road in Pune’s Khed tehsil, officials said.Maharashtra disaster management minister Girish Mahajan said 13 people have died in rain-related incidents over the past three to four days. A red alert for heavy rainfall has been issued for the next two days, he added.A fireman was injured while clearing an uprooted tree, while a billboard and two walls collapsed in separate incidents in Thane city. In neighbouring Palghar district, strong winds damaged tin-roofed sheds and uprooted trees at a residential school, though all 350 students were reported safe, PTI reported.Train services on the Mumbai–Pune route were suspended early Monday after landslides occurred in the Karjat–Lonavala Bhor Ghat section.Central Railway also suspended local services between Karjat and Khopoli after heavy rain washed away ballast between Lowjee and Dolavli stations.Parts of Palghar district recorded nearly 300 mm of rainfall within two hours, worsening conditions by Monday morning.Western Railway operations were severely affected due to waterlogging and landslides, leaving over 20 long-distance trains stranded across Mumbai and south Gujarat. More than 40 services were impacted, with several trains cancelled, rescheduled, diverted or short-terminated.Five incoming flights at Mumbai airport were diverted to other cities till 3. 30pm due to bad weather. Flights were diverted to Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Vadodara, the airport operator said.Mumbai and adjoining areas have been witnessing very heavy rainfall for the past few days, disrupting daily life. Schools were declared closed, traffic movement was reduced, and many people worked from home.Both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature were adjourned due to heavy showers.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told the assembly that the extreme rainfall situation was beyond human control, but said disaster management agencies and municipal bodies were on alert.The CM said that while an average of 800 trees fall during the monsoon, around 350 trees fell in a single day on Sunday.In Pune district, three landslides were reported in Patan village following heavy rain, officials said.The Mumbai–Pune Expressway was closed between the ‘Connecting Link’ and ‘Missing Link’ sections after a concrete pillar fell on the carriageway. The old Pune–Mumbai highway was also shut due to waterlogging at multiple locations.Opposition legislators staged a protest at the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai, alleging that the heavy rains exposed weaknesses in infrastructure and preparedness. They sought accountability for monsoon-related deaths and damage.(With agency inputs)
