MUMBAI, JULY 7: Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall has lashed several districts of Maharashtra over the past 24 hours, marking a robust spell of monsoon activity across the state. According to data released by the State Emergency Operations Centre for the 24-hour period ending on the morning of July 7, 2026, Palghar district recorded the state’s highest rainfall at 203.3 mm. The downpour has been most intense across the Konkan coastal belt and western Maharashtra, triggering widespread waterlogging in low-lying areas. The continuous precipitation has disrupted daily life across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), prompting the administration to place emergency response mechanisms on high alert.
Current Situation in Mumbai: Suburbs Battered, Transit Slowed
The capital city and its suburban networks have witnessed relentless rain over the last 24 hours, with Mumbai Suburban district registering a substantial 90.4 mm of rainfall. This intense spell has caused water to accumulate in chronic low-lying pockets, including Hindmata, Sion, Milan Subway, Andheri, and Kurla. Due to waterlogged tracks, local train services across all three major lifelines Central, Western, and Harbour lines are operating with delays of 10 to 15 minutes.
Concurrently, vehicular movement on roads has slowed down significantly, with massive traffic snarls reported on both the Eastern and Western Express Highways. To mitigate commuter distress and maintain public transit flow, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and BEST administration have diverted buses on several key routes. The civic body has issued an advisory urging citizens to avoid venturing outdoors unless absolutely necessary and has strictly prohibited public access to city beaches.
Severe Downpour Across Konkan and Western Maharashtra
Following Palghar, neighboring Thane and Raigad districts were also battered by the downpour, recording 116.4 mm and 108.7 mm of rainfall, respectively. The non-stop rain has led to a rapid rise in the water levels of rivers flowing through the rural expanses of these districts. Further down the coast, Ratnagiri recorded 58.4 mm of rain, while Sindhudurg received 37.1 mm.
In western Maharashtra, Pune district registered 70.9 mm of rainfall. Given the heightened intensity of the downpour in the ghat sections, authorities have instructed tourists at various hill stations to exercise extreme caution. Satara and Kolhapur districts clocked 46.6 mm and 47.7 mm of rain, respectively, keeping the district administration on high alert as they closely monitor the water levels of the Panchganga River in Kolhapur. Meanwhile, Nashik district recorded 36 mm of rain, resulting in a noticeable inflow into the Godavari River basin.
Steady but Mild Showers in Marathwada and Vidarbha
While the coastal and western belts experienced torrential downpours, the monsoon progression remained comparatively subdued across the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions. Ahilyanagar recorded 26.8 mm of rain, followed by Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar at 14.1 mm. Pockets such as Jalna, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Nanded, Parbhani, and Hingoli only witnessed light passing showers, with cumulative figures hovering below the 6 mm mark.
The spell was even milder in Vidarbha, where Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroloi recorded meager rainfalls ranging between 1 mm and 2 mm, leaving the local farming community waiting for a more substantial spell. The State Emergency Operations Centre added in its report that while water stocks across major dams are steadily rising, an official advisory for high alertness remains in place for all coastal districts for the next 48 hours.
Farmers Urged to Plan According to Weather Conditions, Appeals Agriculture Department
Although the beginning of July witnessed torrential downpours across Mumbai and western Maharashtra, cumulative rainfall in several parts of the state remains below average. This deficit is particularly evident in Khandesh (Dhule and Nandurbar districts), Central Maharashtra (Ahilyanagar and Solapur districts), Western Vidarbha, and certain pockets of the Marathwada region.
Weather models indicate a significant reduction in rainfall activity across most parts of the state starting July 8, a dry spell that is highly likely to persist for at least the next 10 days. During this period, below-average rainfall is expected across various regions of Maharashtra. Additionally, a rise in maximum daily temperatures cannot be ruled out. Preliminary forecasts further suggest that the latter half of July may experience a sharper decline in precipitation compared to the first half of the month.
In light of these conditions, the State Agriculture Department has issued an advisory urging farmers to meticulously plan their agricultural activities. The department has strongly appealed to farmers in regions that have not yet received satisfactory rainfall to hold off on sowing operations, emphasizing that sowing should not be rushed until the soil develops and retains adequate moisture levels.
