Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis Orders Evacuations as Heavy Rains Threaten Floods

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis convened a high‑level meeting to review the ongoing heavy‑rain crisis and ordered evacuations in flood‑prone districts. Red alerts were issued for areas including Palghar, Raigad and Ratnagiri as rivers crossed danger levels and landslides threatened roads and rail lines. Cabinet minister Girish Mahajan urged residents to avoid non‑essential travel, warned that winds of 70‑90 km/h were blowing, and announced the temporary closure of the Mumbai Expressway’s missing link after a landslide. Schools were shut in several districts as a precaution. Opposition MLA Satej Patil criticised the state’s preparedness, alleging delayed notifications and inadequate infrastructure planning. The disaster‑management apparatus remains on high alert, with officials monitoring river heights, cloudburst risks and transport disruptions across the Konkan region, Mumbai and Nashik.