The western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat are grappling with severe weather conditions as heavy rainfall continues to pound the regions, leading to devastating consequences. In Thane district, Maharashtra, authorities have issued a flood alert for villages in Bhiwandi, Shahapur, and Vasai talukas after water levels in Tansa Dam surged dangerously close to the overflow mark. The situation in Mumbai is equally concerning, with incessant heavy rainfall this week prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s health department to release an advisory for leptospirosis due to a surge in cases this season.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease often associated with contaminated water and is posing a serious health threat in the rain-battered city. In the wake of the heavy downpours, a tragic incident occurred in Thane, where a 19-year-old man from Murbad, Deepak Kumar Paswan, was found dead on the bank of a river. The victim, originally from Uttar Pradesh and employed in a media company, had gone out for work on Tuesday but did not return home, raising concerns about the risks posed by the ongoing floods and inclement weather.
Meanwhile, in Raigad district, Maharashtra, the situation turned dire as a landslide in Irshalwadi claimed the lives of 27 people, while 81 individuals remain unaccounted for. In response to the catastrophe, the Raigad administration imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in Irshalwadi, aiming to manage the rescue and recovery operations efficiently. Gujarat is also grappling with the impact of heavy rainfall, with Navsari district experiencing a traffic jam of several kilometers on the national highway due to the inclement weather.
Moreover, multiple areas in the state, including Junagadh, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Kutch, Surat, Valsad, and Navsari, have been put on red alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts more widespread rainfall with isolated instances of heavy to very heavy downpours. In Junagadh, the situation escalated into a flood-like scenario, with parked cars and cattle swept away in gushing waters following a staggering 241 mm of rainfall in just 12 hours. Residents were left stranded, navigating waist-deep water and seeking help from volunteers amid the strong currents. The tragedy extended beyond Gujarat, with Dadra and Nagar Haveli, a Union Territory neighboring Gujarat, witnessing a heart-wrenching incident.
A father-son duo drowned after their car was washed away near Silvassa town when they attempted to cross a low-lying bridge amidst fast-moving waters. The situation in Navsari city was equally distressing, as a man and his son were swept away in a swollen drain. While the man was rescued, efforts were underway to locate the missing son. As the region continues to battle torrential rains and their devastating consequences, authorities are on high alert, conducting rescue operations and issuing warnings to ensure the safety and well-being of residents in the affected areas.