Record rains batter Maharashtra as deadly monsoon claims 13 lives
IMD issues red alert as heavy rains disrupt Mumbai travel
Long-distance trains to Pune were suspended, and suburban services were hit in Raigad.
The state advised work from home for private offices and half-day operations for non-essential and semi-government offices.
The Maharashtra Assembly was adjourned, with a fuller government statement promised for Tuesday.
Odisha was placed on alert as rain continued for a third day and schools and colleges were shut in several districts.
IMD issued orange and yellow warnings across multiple districts in Odisha, signaling more heavy rain ahead.
Mumbai and Odisha were both hit hard by rain on Monday, turning an already difficult monsoon spell into a day of disrupted routines, delayed travel and nervous waiting. In Mumbai, intermittent heavy showers and gusty winds slowed the city to a crawl, while in Odisha persistent rain kept the state on alert for the third straight day.
In Mumbai and nearby districts, the impact was immediate and visible. Long-distance trains to Pune were suspended, suburban rail services were halted on a stretch in Raigad, and road traffic moved slowly because of waterlogging. The weather was not just an inconvenience; it forced the city’s systems to pause. For commuters, that meant uncertainty at stations, longer road journeys and a familiar monsoon frustration that quickly becomes part of everyday life.
The move was aimed at reducing congestion and keeping people off the roads during the worst of the rain. Earlier in the day, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was adjourned for the day after forecasts warned of heavy rain and strong winds across Mumbai and adjoining areas. The chief minister said the government would make a fuller statement in the House on Tuesday about rain-related incidents, response measures and preparedness.
For many residents, the day felt less like a weather event and more like a test of patience. Office workers tried to judge whether to leave home, parents weighed school closures, and train passengers waited for clarity that often came too late. In a city like Mumbai, where movement depends heavily on rail and road connectivity, even a few hours of intense rain can ripple through the entire day. The advisories were necessary, but they also underlined how vulnerable urban routines remain when the monsoon turns aggressive.
Odisha, meanwhile, was dealing with a different but equally serious phase of the same monsoon surge. The entire state was placed on alert as rain continued without much pause, and forecasts suggested more downpour until July 7. Several district administrations closed educational institutions, including schools and colleges in Cuttack, Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Bargarh. For families, that meant children staying home and daily routines being rearranged once again around the weather.
The IMD’s warnings showed the spread of the concern. An orange warning was issued for Bargarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada and Bolangir, where heavy to very heavy rainfall was expected. A yellow warning covered Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and Nayagarh. Those alerts reflected not just the intensity of the rain, but the possibility of further disruption if the showers continued through the week.
The political side of the weather story added another layer of inconvenience. BJP MLA Sameer Meghe said his 10:10 a.m. IndiGo flight from Nagpur to Mumbai never departed, leaving his group stuck until they decided to postpone the trip. BJP MLA Praveen Datke said they chose safety over uncertainty and deferred travel until the next day. Congress MLA Vikas Thakre voiced frustration at the uncertainty around flight schedules and the risk of getting stranded in Mumbai.