- Relentless rain caused a landslide in Pune's Patan village, killing three family members
- NDRF deployed 30-member team to rescue people trapped, two bodies recovered so far
- Traffic halted on Mumbai-Pune Expressway and old highway due to landslides and flooding
Relentless rainfall in Maharashtra triggered a major landslide in Maharashtra's Pune district early on Monday, killing three members of a family after several houses were buried under debris. The incident also disrupted traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway, forcing authorities to suspend movement on key routes linking the two cities.
The victims have been identified as Nandu Tikone (60), Mauli Tikone (30) and Anita Tikone (55).
According to officials, around five houses were buried after a portion of a hill collapsed in Patan village of Maval tehsil.
The incident occurred at around 4:25 am when a portion of a mountain collapsed onto houses in the village, trapping around 30 to 35 people under the debris.
NDRF teams have recovered two bodies so far, while debris removal work is underway and efforts continue to recover the third body.
"The body of one person has been recovered from the debris, and the search is underway for the other two," an NDRF official said, news agency PTI reported.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Lonavala division) Gajanan Tompe said three landslides occurred in the remote village following heavy rainfall.
"In one of the incidents, a house was buried under the debris. Three persons were inside the house when the landslide occurred in the early hours of Monday," he said.
Following a distress call, the District Information Office said immediate assistance was sought from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). A specialised 30-member team from the NDRF's 5th Battalion, based in Pune, was quickly deployed to Pune's Patan village, news agency ANI reported.
Authorities are continuing efforts to locate and rescue people trapped in the debris.
Key Mumbai-Pune Expressway Affected
The massive landslide has also severely affected traffic movement in the area. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said around 100 tonnes of debris suddenly fell onto the Mumbai-Pune Expressway after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide in the region.
Providing an update on rescue and clearance efforts, the Chief Minister said nearly 70% of the debris has been removed so far.
He further said that one lane for traffic heading from Pune to Mumbai has been reopened, and expressed hope that the expressway would be fully operational within the next few hours.
The landslide, triggered by incessant rain in Pune district, had disrupted traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Traffic on both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway was halted on Monday.
Authorities had urged people to avoid travelling between Mumbai and Pune until further notice, citing safety risks arising from the adverse weather conditions.
In an advisory, police said vehicular movement on both routes had been suspended in both directions and would remain so until further orders.
"Citizens are requested to postpone non-essential travel between Pune and Mumbai and keep track of traffic updates and advisories issued by the authorities," the advisory said.
The 13-kilometre Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link, which became operational two months ago, passes through the Sahyadri range. The bypass shortens the journey by around 6-kilometre and reduces travel time by nearly 25 to 30 minutes.
Rainfall Disrupts Normal Life In Mumbai
Continuous heavy rain has disrupted normal life across Mumbai and nearby areas, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to issue a weather alert warning of intense showers, strong winds and high tides.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'red' alert, forecasting heavy to very heavy rains and strong winds in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane and Raigad districts.
Rail services have been affected due to waterlogging and landslides, while authorities have advised people to avoid travelling between Mumbai and Pune until further notice.
In its weather bulletin issued at 8 am on Monday, the BMC said Mumbai and its suburbs are likely to experience persistent rainfall throughout the day. Very heavy rain is expected in some areas, while isolated locations could receive extremely heavy rainfall. Gusty winds with speeds of 60-70 kmph are also likely at times.
The civic body urged residents, especially those living in low-lying and waterlogging-prone areas, to remain cautious. A high tide of 4.08 metres is expected at 3:56 pm on Monday, followed by another high tide of 3.44 metres at 4:38 am on Tuesday. Low tides are forecast at 10:13 pm on Monday and 9:59 am on Tuesday.
8 Dead In Rain-Linked Incidents Across Mumbai
Amid incessant rainfall, two people died in separate tree collapse incidents in Mumbai over the past two days. Earlier, on June 30, an 11-year-old boy was killed when a tree uprooted and crashed onto a moving school bus.
Meanwhile, six people lost their lives after a chawl collapsed in the city's Mankhurd area on Sunday.
