Mumbai: Torrential rainfall across parts of Maharashtra has severely affected both road and rail transportation, forcing authorities to suspend train operations and close major highways as a precautionary measure.
The Pune–Mangaon National Highway via the Paud–Mangaon route has been closed to all traffic until further notice after incessant rain made travel unsafe. Officials have urged commuters to avoid the stretch as restoration work and safety assessments continue.
Rail services also suffered a setback after heavy rain damaged tracks between Karjat and Khopoli. According to the Central Railway, strong water flow led to the washing away of ballast beneath the railway tracks, prompting an immediate suspension of train services on the section.
Railway authorities said alert staff detected the damage in time, preventing any untoward incident. Repair teams and machinery have been rushed to the affected site to restore track stability and resume services at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) reported a landslide near Tunnel 2 on the Pune–Mumbai Connecting Link Road in the early hours of Sunday. As a safety measure, traffic on the route was diverted from around 4 am.
Officials said they are closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the highway traffic police while debris clearance operations continue. Motorists have been advised to postpone non-essential travel on the affected corridor and use alternate routes wherever possible.
The spell of intense monsoon rain has triggered multiple disruptions across the state, with authorities remaining on high alert as forecasts indicate continued rainfall over the coming days. Emergency response teams are on standby to tackle further weather-related incidents.
