Monsoon Rains Wreak Havoc in Maharashtra: 21 Lives Lost, Central and Marathwada Regions Hit Hardest

Mumbai: The early arrival of the southwest monsoon has unleashed widespread destruction across Maharashtra, claiming 21 human lives and 22 animals, according to the State Disaster Management Department. The relentless downpours, which began on Sunday, have battered the state, with Pune and Nanded districts reporting the highest casualties at three deaths each. The monsoon, arriving ahead of schedule, swept into Mumbai and Pune within 24 hours of hitting the state, bringing heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Amravati, Bhandara, and Chandrapur in Vidarbha, forecasting continued heavy rain on Thursday. The Marathwada region has been particularly hard-hit, with Latur recording 206.5 mm of rainfall over three days and Ahilyanagar registering 201.2 mm. In Jalna district, 17 revenue circles faced excessive rainfall, with Badnapur and Partur talukas experiencing cloudburst-like conditions, leading to waterlogged farmlands and surging river levels. Rivers such as the Dudhana and Sukhna, typically dry in May, are now flowing with strong currents due to the unprecedented rainfall.

The deluge has caused significant agricultural damage. In Washim district’s Mangrulpir taluka, crops were heavily impacted by continuous rain and strong winds over two days. Social media posts from Maharashtra Rains (@Maharashtr19450) highlighted flooding in Latur and heavy rain in Pune’s Wakad area, while IANS reported damage to solar panels in Kothari village, Washim district. The state’s central and Marathwada regions remain the worst affected, grappling with the aftermath of this unseasonal monsoon fury.