Unseasonal rains leave 24 dead in Maharashtra, Red alerts still in place
Unseasonal heavy rain and strong winds triggered by a low-pressure system over the Arabian Sea have battered Maharashtra over the past two weeks, leading to at least 24 deaths and widespread damage. The worst days came on May 19 and 20, with multiple deaths reported from lightning, drowning, tree falls, and a building collapse. With continued rainfall and severe weather predicted, several districts remain under Orange or Red alerts.
Stormy clouds in the Mumbai skyline on May 23, 2025. Credit: Satkar Singh
A low-pressure system over the east-central Arabian Sea has produced heavy unseasonal rainfall and strong winds across Maharashtra over the past two weeks, resulting in at least 24 deaths and 11 reported injuries. The weather system has also caused widespread infrastructure damage, uprooted trees, and left numerous animals dead.
Sixteen of the reported fatalities are believed to have occurred in Thane district, although official district-level figures remain unconfirmed. Thunderstorms, lightning, and related severe weather were also responsible for the deaths of at least 55 animals across the state.
On Monday, May 19, five people were killed by lightning and five others drowned. The situation further worsened on Tuesday, May 20, when 14 more lives were lost. These included four from lightning, one from drowning, two from tree falls, and six from a building collapse in Kalyan.
Earlier in the month, on May 6, three people were killed in Kalyan when a tree fell on an auto rickshaw during stormy weather.
By the evening of May 21, intense rainfall had affected multiple districts across the state, prompting a weather advisory from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
In the 24-hour period ending Wednesday evening, Dodamarg in Sindhudurg recorded 140 mm (5.5 inches) of rain, Chinchwad in Pune received 100 mm (3.9 inches), and the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla logged 103 mm (4 inches) by 22:15 local time.
According to IMD, heavy rain is expected to persist across Maharashtra, especially in the Konkan belt, over the coming days, with the northern Konkan region experiencing the most severe effects. Inland areas remain relatively less impacted as the system progresses.
Pune, Sindhudurg, along with the hilly regions of Satara, are under an Orange alert for the upcoming two days. Weather conditions are expected to include thunderstorms with lightning, strong winds blowing between 40 and 60 km/h (25–37 mph), and periods of moderate to heavy rainfall.
Mumbai, Thane, Palghar were also a part of orange alert, but were downgraded to yellow alert on Friday, May 23, afternoon. Goa, Raigad, and Ratnagiri remain under Red alert.
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