Mumbai : Monsoon fury brought travel between Mumbai and Pune to a halt on Monday, as heavy rain triggered landslides and flooding across the region. At least 16 trains were cancelled and nine others were diverted due to the weather. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Mumbai and a red alert for Pune, warning of more heavy rain.
The first landslide was reported around 3.05 am near Thakurwadi in the Karjat-Lonavala Bhor Ghat section. Another landslide followed between Khandala and Monkey Hill. Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Swapnil Nila said all three railway lines in the difficult Bhor Ghat stretch were affected. These include the Up line towards Mumbai, the Down line towards Pune and the Middle line.
The disruption forced the Railways to cancel, divert and regulate several services. Trains cancelled included the CSMT-Pune Indrayani Express, Intercity Express, Deccan Express, Deccan Queen, Pragati Express and Dhule Express. The Pune-CSMT Sinhagad Express was also cancelled, while several long-distance trains were short-terminated, short-originated, diverted or rescheduled.
Road traffic was also badly hit. Officials said both carriageways of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune highway were shut until further notice as heavy rain continued in the region. Traffic on the Pune-bound carriageway of the Khopoli-Kusgaon Missing Link was diverted early Monday after a landslide near the exit of Tunnel 2. Several stretches of the old highway also became unusable due to flooding and overflowing water.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said traffic diversions had been in place since 4 am as a precaution. It said the situation was being monitored along with the Highway Traffic Police and advised motorists to avoid the route unless absolutely necessary. Police said flood-like conditions were reported in parts of Maval and Tamhini Ghat, affecting alternate routes between Mumbai and Pune.
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