Mumbai monsoon: Schools, colleges shut as IMD issues 'orange alert' for heavy rain
PTC News Desk: Mumbai residents woke up to cloudy skies and strong winds on Tuesday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for heavy rain and gusty weather. As a precaution, all government, private, and civic-run schools and colleges in the city have been closed for the day.
Heavy rain on Monday disrupted normal life in Mumbai and nearby areas. Several roads were flooded, trees were uprooted, and incidents of wall and billboard collapses were reported across the region.
An orange alert means severe weather conditions are expected and people should be prepared for possible transport disruptions, power outages, and other inconveniences. It is the second-highest warning level after the red alert.
Meanwhile, traffic on the Mumbai-bound lane of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s Missing Link section resumed late Monday night after being suspended for over 18 hours due to a landslide caused by heavy rain. Officials said the route was reopened at around 10:10 pm after safety checks were completed.
The landslide occurred near the exit of Tunnel 2, the longest tunnel on the Missing Link project through the Sahyadri mountains, at around 4 am on Monday.
In Pune district, heavy rain-related incidents claimed at least six lives on Monday. Four people, including three members of a family, died in landslips and wall collapses, while two others were swept away by floodwaters.
Authorities said continuous rainfall triggered several landslides across Pune district. In Patan village of Maval tehsil, a landslide killed three members of the same family. More than 500 people were rescued or moved to safer locations as a precaution.
- With inputs from agencies
