PM Modi's Maharashtra Visit Cancelled Due to Heavy Rainfall

Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s scheduled visit to Pune on Thursday was cancelled following heavy and incessant rainfall across parts of Maharashtra. He was set to flag off the Metro train service from the district court to Swargate and inaugurate several projects worth over ₹20,900 crore.

The relentless downpour has led to significant waterlogging in multiple areas, disrupting train, bus, and flight services in Mumbai and Pune. While train and bus operations were resumed in the morning as water levels receded, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for continued heavy rainfall across the state.

According to Central Railways, local train services are running normally, although some main line trains are running 3-4 minutes behind schedule due to adjustments in mail express movements. The Western Railway suburban services were also restored despite the challenging weather conditions.

In light of the IMD forecasts, the city administration has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in Mumbai. Similarly, the Pune district administration has announced school closures due to anticipated heavy rainfall, with an orange alert issued for the area.

Reports indicate that certain regions experienced over 100 mm of rain within just five hours, leading to severe waterlogging and traffic congestion. Data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reveals that the island city recorded 87.79 mm of rainfall, while the eastern suburbs saw 167.48 mm and the western suburbs 95.57 mm between 5 PM and 10 PM.

Additionally, a landslide occurred at Mumbra bypass road due to the heavy rains, necessitating the removal of rocks from the road. Fire Officer Swapnil Sarnobat confirmed that the landslide, which is a recurring issue during the monsoon season, happened around 9:30 PM amid the ongoing rainfall.

As Maharashtra grapples with the impacts of the heavy rains, officials are working to restore normalcy while prioritising public safety.