New Delhi: Heavy monsoon rains continued to batter several parts of India on Wednesday, triggering flash floods, landslides and widespread disruption to rail and road transport, while rescue operations remained underway in Maharashtra and Kerala.
In Maharashtra's Pimpri Chinchwad, 11 people were feared trapped after a massive garbage mound collapsed onto a three-storey building in Moshi. The building housed the administrative office of a private company managing waste on behalf of the civic body. Rescue teams continued efforts to locate those trapped under the debris.
In Kerala's Wayanad, the search continued for five people missing after a rain-soaked mound of excavated earth collapsed at a tunnel project site. Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan visited the affected area and reviewed the ongoing rescue operations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red and orange alerts for parts of the country, warning of more heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with the chief ministers of Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir to review the flood situation and assured them of all possible assistance from the Union government.
In Gujarat, Surat continued to receive torrential rainfall, with officials reporting that at least nine people had died in rain-related incidents over the past few days. Thousands of residents from low-lying areas have been moved to safer locations, while food packets were distributed to people stranded in waterlogged neighbourhoods.
Mumbai witnessed another spell of heavy rain after a brief lull, delaying suburban train services and causing traffic congestion across the city.
Long-distance train services between Mumbai and Gujarat remained disrupted due to waterlogging in the Vasai-Virar section of Maharashtra's Palghar district and at multiple locations in south Gujarat. Rail operations on the Mumbai-Pune route also remained affected following landslides in the Bhor Ghat section.
In the national capital, persistent heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in several areas and slowed traffic movement, with authorities urging commuters to exercise caution.
Elsewhere in Maharashtra, rivers continued to swell following incessant rainfall. Authorities in Nashik advised residents living along the Godavari, Kadva and Girna rivers to move valuables and livestock to safer locations as water was released from reservoirs, including the Palkhed Dam and the Nandur Madhmeshwar weir.
Train services between Neral and Karjat in Raigad district were briefly suspended after the overflowing Ulhas River submerged railway tracks, before operations resumed later.
