Relentless overnight rain battered Maharashtra on Monday. By 4 AM on July 6, a major landslide forced authorities to close the newest and fastest section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. As rainfall intensified through the morning, officials also shut both the expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway in both directions. Consequently, travellers found themselves without any road route between Mumbai and Pune.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad. Furthermore, the weather agency expects heavy rainfall to continue through July 7.
What Happened on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway
The landslide struck the Missing Link corridor, a 13-kilometre bypass through the Sahyadri mountains that opened only two months ago. Heavy rain triggered the slide, sending debris and large boulders onto the road near the exit of Tunnel 2 on the Pune-to-Mumbai lane at Khandala.
Soon after the incident, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) diverted traffic from the affected stretch. The agency confirmed the closure on X and cited continuous heavy rainfall as the primary reason for the disruption.
However, conditions deteriorated further as the morning progressed. As a result, police suspended traffic on both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway. Authorities also urged citizens to avoid travelling between Mumbai and Pune until further notice.
Key closures as of Monday morning:
- Missing Link section on the Mumbai-bound lane fully closed
- Old Mumbai-Pune Highway shut to traffic
- Khandala Ghat section disrupted by waterlogging and landslides
- Maval and Tamhini Ghat roads flooded and unavailable as alternate routes
Train Services Also Hit: Three Rail Lines Affected
The severe weather has disrupted more than road transport. In addition, Central Railway reported problems on all three railway lines in the Bhor Ghat section after multiple landslides struck the area.
Officials reported two separate incidents:
- A landslide near Thakurwadi in the Karjat-Lonavala ghat section
- Another landslide on the middle line between Khandala and Monkey Hill around 3:05 AM
According to Central Railway Chief PRO Swapnil Nila, railway authorities cancelled, diverted, and regulated several long-distance trains. Moreover, maintenance teams discovered ballast washout near Karjat, prompting officials to suspend services between Karjat and Khopoli.
Consequently, thousands of commuters faced disruptions across both road and rail networks on Monday morning.
Rainfall Data: How Bad Is It?
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region has experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours.
For example:
- Vikhroli recorded 316 mm of rainfall in a single session
- Several parts of Mumbai received between 250 mm and 300 mm of rain
- Mumbai’s cumulative rainfall crossed 1,000 mm in less than two weeks
- The city’s seven reservoirs gained 3.73% capacity in 24 hours, pushing total storage to 16.92%
Meteorologists attribute the intense rainfall to an active offshore trough stretching from the Maharashtra coast to the Karnataka coast.
Casualties and Other Incidents Across Maharashtra
Unfortunately, the extreme weather has claimed lives and caused widespread disruption across the state.
Authorities reported the following incidents:
- A chawl collapse in Mankhurd killed six people on Sunday night
- A falling tree killed one person in Mumbai
- Rescue teams rushed to Patan village near Lohgad Fort after reports suggested a family became trapped during a landslide
- Heavy rainfall forced airport authorities to suspend flight operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for nearly an hour on Sunday
- A fallen tree blocked a security convoy in Bandra
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced ₹5 lakh compensation for the families of those who died in the Mankhurd collapse.
Why the Missing Link Was Specifically Vulnerable
Engineers developed the Missing Link project to reduce travel time and bypass the landslide-prone Khandala Ghat section. The route cuts through the Sahyadri mountains using tunnels and bridges, allowing motorists to avoid several dangerous stretches.
As a result, commuters saved approximately 25 to 30 minutes after authorities opened the corridor earlier this year.
However, the latest landslide highlights the scale of this year’s monsoon challenge. Ironically, a route built to bypass landslide-prone terrain has itself suffered a major landslide. Therefore, experts may closely examine how the new infrastructure performs under extreme weather conditions in the coming months.
Schools, Exams, and Offices
The relentless rainfall has also disrupted daily life across several districts.
As a precaution:
- Authorities closed schools and colleges in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Palghar
- Mumbai University postponed all Monday examinations
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) urged residents to leave home only when necessary
- Government and private offices remain operational, although employers have advised staff to travel carefully
Safety Advisory for Travellers
If you plan to travel between Mumbai and Pune today, follow these precautions:
- Avoid the journey until authorities reopen the routes
- Check updates from MSRDC and Maharashtra Police regularly
- Verify train schedules and service status through Central Railway before leaving for the station
- Consider postponing non-essential travel until July 8, as forecasts indicate continued rainfall through July 7
This remains a developing story. We will update this article as MSRDC, Central Railway, and local authorities release fresh information.