Multiple Landslides After 670 mm Rain Bring Mumbai-Pune Train Services to a Halt

Torrential monsoon rain that dumped nearly 670 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours over Lonavala triggered multiple landslides across the Karjat-Lonavala Ghat section of the Mumbai-Pune rail corridor, severely disrupting train services and highlighting the growing impact of extreme weather events on Maharashtra's transport infrastructure.

According to official data, Lonavala recorded 670 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 7 am on Monday, after receiving nearly 300 mm the previous day. The intense downpour caused 22 landslides across Pune district , with major incidents reported near Thakurwadi, Monkey Hill and Khandala . A fallen tree near Khandala station further hampered rail operations.

Central Railway said the first landslide struck after nearly 160 mm of rain fell within four hours , damaging tracks at several locations. Despite the extensive damage, no passengers were injured , as watchmen deployed at vulnerable spots alerted authorities in time. Two stranded trains, the Daund-Gwalior Express and the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Bengaluru Express were safely moved back to nearby stations.

The disruption forced the cancellation of 27 trains , diversion of 57 services , while several others were short-terminated, short-originated or rescheduled. Meanwhile, suburban train services between Karjat and Khopoli partially resumed on Monday evening after a nearly 12-hour suspension caused by a ballast washout.

Railways have deployed 200 workers , with another 200 personnel being mobilised to accelerate restoration.

The incident comes as Maharashtra experiences an active monsoon phase, with short-duration, high-intensity rainfall becoming increasingly common in the Western Ghats. Such extreme downpours often trigger landslides, flooding and infrastructure damage, disrupting road and rail connectivity during the peak travel season.