Deputy CM Directs Konkan Districts to Remain on Alert Amid Heavy Rainfall

“Highest priority must be given to preventing loss of human and animal life” – Deputy CM Eknath Shinde

Thane, Sept 2025 : With a red alert issued for the next 24 hours in the coastal Konkan districts of Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed all emergency machinery in these districts to remain on high alert. Against the backdrop of heavy rainfall since yesterday, Shinde reviewed the situation in Thane and other Konkan districts and instructed the district administrations to stay fully prepared to handle emergencies while giving utmost priority to preventing human and animal casualties.

Present at the review were Konkan Divisional Commissioner Dr. Vijay Suryavanshi, Thane Collector Shrikrishna Panchal, Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, Raigad Collector Kishan Jawale, Palghar Collector Indu Rani Jakhar, Thane Zilla Parishad CEO Rohan Ghuge, along with commissioners of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar, and Bhiwandi municipal corporations via video conferencing.

Shinde reviewed rainfall data from Mumbai, suburban Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Raigad, Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi, Mira-Bhayander, and Vasai-Virar over the past 24 hours. It was reported that while heavy rainfall occurred across all areas, the average rainfall was between 80 to 100 mm. Water levels in rivers in Thane, Palghar, and Raigad had risen but remained below danger marks. Apart from an incident in Badlapur where one person was swept away yesterday, no major loss of life or livestock was reported. With rainfall intensity fluctuating, the situation remains under control, but given the red alert until tonight, Shinde urged strict precautions.

He instructed that in areas where floodwater could enter homes and endanger lives, residents should be relocated to safe places in advance. Municipal schools should be readied for shelter, with food and water arrangements in place. All emergency services must remain on alert, keep phones operational 24×7, and ensure no calls go unanswered. Shinde noted complaints of non-responsiveness from the power supply department and directed strict compliance in this regard. All officers and staff engaged in emergency duties must remain present on the ground, he emphasized.

Special attention must be given to dangerous buildings in Thane, Bhiwandi, and Ulhasnagar municipal limits. Any building found collapsing or severely damaged must be evacuated immediately, he directed. Additional manpower should be deployed to monitor water levels in dams. Traffic police were asked to ensure that highways and arterial routes in Mumbai, Thane, and Bhiwandi do not suffer gridlocks causing hours-long delays. In Raigad, if there is a risk of landslides due to heavy rains, villages must be evacuated promptly and residents shifted to safer locations. Shinde stressed that while the situation in Mumbai and Konkan’s four districts is currently under control, if rainfall intensifies or heavy downpours occur in a short span, all municipal administrations must be fully prepared to tackle emergencies.

Review of Marathwada Situation

Shinde also reviewed rainfall and flood conditions in Marathwada, particularly in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Beed, Nanded, and Ahilyanagar, where heavy rains and floods continue. He said he had spoken with the collectors and local MLAs this morning to assess the situation, and directed that residents near rivers be relocated to safer areas, with proper arrangements for food and essential supplies.

Acknowledging that farmers have suffered significant losses, Shinde said that if necessary, certain norms may be relaxed to provide them with urgent relief. The state government will soon release assistance, he assured, stressing: “This is the time to provide immediate help to farmers, and we will definitely do it.”