In an emergency meeting to take stock of the flood situation in Ratnagiri and Raigad districts, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directed the Disaster Management units and departments to begin the rescue operations.
Heavy overnight rain in Mumbai and neighbouring areas led to flooding of rail tracks in several areas, mudslides and boulder crashes were also reported, severely affecting long distance and local train services. Special buses are being arranged for the stranded train passengers, according to Railway officials.
Videos on social media showed people wading through chest-deep water in Bhiwandi, where houses were seen half submerged in water.
Heavy rains have been lashing Ratnagiri since Thursday morning, leading to overflowing of rivers and shutting of highway near Lanja village.
Massive flooding has been reported in the Konkan belt of Maharashtra, especially Chiplun, with water levels crossing 5 feet. Four teams of the NDRF along with rescue choppers have been deployed, one each in Palghar, Thane, Chiplun (Ratnagiri) and two in Kolhapur.
Rains are likely to continue in Mumbai and neighbouring areas, the Met department has issued an orange alert for the day, indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall and thundershowers, with gusty winds reaching up to 60 kmph.