At least four people have been killed as the monsoon continues to batter parts of India, with Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh reporting fresh rain-related deaths and transport networks severely affected. Odisha has been placed on high alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the coming days.
Maharashtra worst-hit in current spell
Maharashtra has emerged as the epicentre of the crisis, with three fresh rain-related deaths reported in Pune on Monday. This brings the state's fatality count to 13 over the last three to four days, according to state disaster management officials. The deaths in Pune were caused by wall collapses and drowning incidents triggered by incessant downpours. Several low-lying areas in Pune and neighbouring districts remain waterlogged, leading to the diversion of traffic and disruption of normal life.
The IMD has issued a red alert for parts of Maharashtra, including the Konkan region and the ghat areas of Pune, Satara, and Kolhapur, predicting extremely heavy rainfall on Tuesday. Authorities have evacuated residents from vulnerable zones and deployed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams for rescue operations.
Himachal Pradesh: girl killed in stone-hit vehicle
In Himachal Pradesh, a 14-year-old girl died on Monday after a shooting stone struck the vehicle she was travelling in on the Mandi-Pathankot highway. The incident occurred near the Jogindernagar area, where landslides and falling boulders have become frequent due to continuous rain. State emergency operations centre officials confirmed the death and said that several roads, including the vital Chandigarh-Manali highway, remain blocked due to debris. More than 200 roads across the state are closed, affecting vehicular movement and supply chains.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for Himachal Pradesh for the next two days, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places. The state government has advised tourists to avoid non-essential travel to hill stations and has suspended school operations in several districts.
Odisha on high alert
Odisha is bracing for heavy rainfall as a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify, bringing extremely heavy downpours to several districts. The IMD has issued a red alert for Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar districts for Wednesday, forecasting rainfall exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours. The state government has put all 30 districts on alert, with the Special Relief Commissioner's office directing collectors to remain prepared for possible flooding and evacuation. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along the Odisha coast until further notice.
In the past 24 hours, several parts of Odisha have already received moderate to heavy rainfall, with Kendrapara recording 12 cm of rain. The state's water resources department has been monitoring dam levels, and some reservoirs have begun releasing water as a precautionary measure.
Transport networks hit across affected states
The monsoon fury has severely impacted transport networks. In Maharashtra, several trains on the Mumbai-Pune route have been delayed or cancelled due to waterlogging on tracks and landslides in the ghat sections. The Konkan Railway has suspended services on some routes as a precaution. In Himachal Pradesh, over 200 roads are closed, including major highways such as the Chandigarh-Manali and Pathankot-Mandi routes. The state road transport corporation has cancelled bus services on many routes, stranding passengers at bus stands. In Odisha, the East Coast Railway has cancelled at least 12 trains and diverted several others in view of the weather warning. Flight operations at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar have been affected, with some flights delayed.
Government response and advisory
The central government has assured full support to the affected states. The Home Ministry has deployed additional NDRF teams to Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Odisha. State governments have opened relief camps and are distributing food and drinking water to those affected. The IMD has advised residents in vulnerable areas to stay indoors, avoid crossing flooded roads, and follow local authority instructions. The monsoon season, which typically lasts until September, has already caused widespread damage across the country this year, with several states reporting higher-than-normal rainfall.
