The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the ghat regions of Pune district, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds over the next 48 hours, as the southwest monsoon strengthens across Maharashtra.
Authorities are advising residents and tourists to avoid traveling to hilly and landslide-prone areas, particularly in the Western Ghats. “A significant surge in rainfall is expected on July 6 and 7 in Pune’s ghat areas and parts of Madhya Maharashtra,” an IMD official stated, also cautioning that wind speeds could reach up to 55 kmph.
According to the IMD’s five-day weather outlook, widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated along the Konkan coast, especially in Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. While the ghat regions of Pune are under a red alert—the highest level—districts such as Mumbai, Thane, and Dhule are under orange and yellow alerts, signaling the likelihood of moderate to heavy showers.
The ongoing monsoon activity has already resulted in fatalities. On Saturday, two individuals lost their lives in Nashik—one due to a fall into a gorge and another from a tree falling. In Thane, a person drowned in floodwaters.
Experts attribute the current weather conditions to multiple systems. “An upper air cyclonic circulation over northern Gangetic West Bengal, extending up to 7.6 km and slightly tilting southward, is expected to evolve into a low-pressure area within the next 24 hours,” an official explained.
In addition, a trough running from the northeastern Arabian Sea to the aforementioned system, along with an offshore trough stretching from south Gujarat to Karnataka, is contributing to the intensified rainfall across western and central parts of the country.
While the ghat regions of Pune remain under red alert, neighboring districts such as Satara and Nashik are under orange alerts for the next two days. These may be downgraded to yellow alerts depending on how the weather systems progress.
Meanwhile, Pune city, which was earlier forecast to receive only light rain, is now under a moderate rainfall alert. Brief but intense showers are likely during the evening and nighttime hours.
Residents are advised to stay alert, monitor official weather updates, and avoid non-essential travel in vulnerable areas until conditions stabilize.
