Mumbai: Relentless monsoon rainfall continued to batter Maharashtra on Monday, triggering a landslide near the Missing Link section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and forcing authorities to shut the stretch temporarily. The heavy downpour severely disrupted road and rail traffic, while schools, colleges, university examinations and even Mumbai’s iconic dabbawala service were affected across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Missing Link Closed After Landslide

The landslide occurred near the exit of Tunnel 2 on the Khopoli-Kusgaon Missing Link in the Pune-to-Mumbai carriageway. Falling rocks and debris made the stretch unsafe, prompting the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and traffic police to immediately suspend traffic on the affected section.

Motorists travelling from Pune towards Mumbai have been diverted via the old Mumbai-Pune Highway and other alternate routes until the debris is cleared and the road is declared safe for movement.

Authorities have advised commuters to avoid unnecessary travel and check traffic updates before beginning their journey.

Road, Rail Services Hit by Heavy Rain

The landslide is part of widespread monsoon disruption across Maharashtra, where continuous rainfall over the past several days has caused flooding, waterlogging and landslides in several districts.

Rail traffic between Mumbai and Pune was also severely affected after landslides and damage to railway infrastructure in the Karjat-Khopoli ghat section. Several trains were cancelled, diverted or delayed, while suburban local train services on the Central and Western Railway corridors also operated behind schedule due to waterlogging.

State Transport (ST) bus services between Mumbai and Pune were suspended temporarily as a precaution, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

Schools, Colleges and University Exams Cancelled

The adverse weather prompted authorities to declare a holiday for all schools and colleges in Mumbai and Thane on Monday.

Mumbai University also cancelled all examinations scheduled for July 6, including LL.M., M.Sc. and M.Com. papers, stating that revised examination dates would be announced later on its official website.

Officials said the decision was taken to prioritise student safety amid the India Meteorological Department’s red alert for Mumbai and neighbouring districts.

Dabbawalas Suspend Services for First Time

Mumbai’s iconic Dabbawala network also suspended its services for the day due to waterlogging and safety concerns for delivery personnel.

The association said that in its 125-year history, this is among the rare occasions when operations have been halted because of extreme weather conditions.

Authorities on High Alert

The IMD has forecast continued heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Mumbai, Thane and parts of the Konkan region over the next 24 hours. Disaster response teams remain on alert as civic authorities continue efforts to clear debris, restore transport services and monitor flood-prone areas.

Residents have been advised to avoid low-lying areas, stay away from landslide-prone zones and follow official weather and traffic advisories until conditions improve.

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