Heavy Rains, Landslides Cut Off Mumbai-Pune Link; Trains Halted, Expressway Shut

Heavy Rains, Landslides Cripple Mumbai-Pune Connectivity; Trains Cancelled, Expressway Shut

Torrential monsoon rain brought Mumbai-Pune connectivity to a halt on Monday after multiple landslides and flooding disrupted both rail and road traffic, prompting authorities to cancel trains, shut the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and issue travel advisories.

At least 16 trains were cancelled and nine others diverted as landslides struck the Bhor Ghat section of the Central Railway network. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Mumbai and a red alert for Pune, warning of continued heavy rainfall.

The first landslide was reported around 3.05 am near Thakurwadi in the Karjat-Lonavala Bhor Ghat section, followed by another between Khandala and Monkey Hill, severely affecting one of the busiest rail corridors in Maharashtra.

According to Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, all three railway lines through the ghat section—the Up line towards Mumbai, the Down line towards Pune and the Middle line—were impacted by debris triggered by incessant rainfall.

“Due to incessant heavy rainfall in the South East Ghat section between Karjat and Lonavala, a landslide occurred between Thakurvadi and Monkey Hill Loop Cabin on the Up Main Line of Mumbai Division,” Nila said.

The disruption forced Central Railway to cancel, divert and regulate several passenger services.

Among the cancelled trains were the CSMT-Pune Indrayani Express, Intercity Express, Deccan Express, Deccan Queen, Pragati Express and Dhule Express. The Pune-CSMT Sinhagad Express was also cancelled, while several long-distance trains were short-terminated, short-originated, diverted or rescheduled.

Railway officials said restoration work was underway and urged passengers to check train schedules before travelling.

Expressway Closed, Travel Advisory Issued

Road connectivity between Mumbai and Pune was also severely affected after authorities shut both carriageways of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway as well as the old Mumbai-Pune Highway until further notice.

Traffic on the Pune-bound carriageway near the Khopoli-Kusgaon Missing Link was diverted after a landslide near the exit of Tunnel 2, while flooding rendered several stretches of the old highway impassable.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said traffic diversions had been in place since 4 am as a precaution and that the situation was being monitored in coordination with the Highway Traffic Police.

Police also reported flood-like conditions in parts of Maval and Tamhini Ghat, disrupting alternate routes between the two cities. Officials said the expressway was closed after a concrete pillar collapsed onto the carriageway between the Connecting Link and Missing Link sections, while waterlogging and fresh landslides hampered vehicle movement through the Khandala Ghat stretch.

In a public advisory, police urged commuters to avoid non-essential travel between Mumbai and Pune until conditions improve.

“Citizens are requested not to undertake any journey between Pune and Mumbai until further directions are issued. Those planning to travel are advised to postpone their journey and follow traffic advisories and updates issued by government agencies,” the advisory said.

With heavy rainfall expected to continue, authorities declared a holiday for all government, private and civic-run schools and colleges across Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Palghar districts on Monday as a precautionary measure.