Monsoon Fury in Maharashtra: Landslide at Malshej Ghat, Trees Uprooted in Thane and Palghar

THANE, Jun 24: Intense monsoon rainfall across Maharashtra’s Thane and adjoining Palghar districts led to a minor landslide along the Malshej Ghat route and prompted multiple emergency responses related to fallen trees and other weather-linked incidents, officials said on Wednesday.

According to district authorities, the landslide occurred on Tuesday evening on a section of the Malshej Ghat road connecting Thane and Pune districts. The affected stretch lies between two popular points along the hill route and witnessed a brief accumulation of mud and debris following continuous rainfall.

Emergency teams acted swiftly after receiving information about the incident. Earth moving equipment was deployed to clear the affected area, ensuring that vehicular movement remained uninterrupted. Officials confirmed that no injuries or loss of life were reported, and traffic continued to operate normally after the debris was removed.

Meanwhile, the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) recorded several weather-related complaints from different parts of Thane district during the last 24 hours. Most of the reports were linked to uprooted trees and broken branches caused by strong winds and persistent rainfall.

One such incident occurred in the Charai locality of Thane city, where a large tree collapsed onto two parked vehicles on Wednesday morning. The impact damaged both cars, though no occupants were present at the time. Personnel from the disaster management unit and the fire brigade reached the site and initiated clearance operations.

Officials stated that no casualties were reported in any of the incidents recorded during the period. Apart from tree fall complaints, authorities also responded to a handful of emergency calls related to fire incidents and other civic concerns.

Rainfall data released by the RDMC showed substantial precipitation in Thane city over the 24-hour period ending Wednesday morning. The fresh spell of rain has significantly boosted seasonal rainfall figures and brought relief from earlier concerns regarding water availability.

The Bhatsa Dam in Shahapur taluka, one of the region’s major water sources, also received fresh inflows due to continued rainfall in its catchment areas. Authorities said the reservoir’s water storage has improved, though discharge operations have not been initiated as water levels remain within manageable limits.

Disaster management officials have advised residents to remain cautious, particularly in hilly and low-lying areas vulnerable to landslides, waterlogging and falling trees. Monitoring of weather conditions and infrastructure continues as the monsoon strengthens across Maharashtra.

Authorities said response teams remain on alert to tackle any emergencies arising from heavy rainfall in the coming days.