Maharashtra monsoon: 18 NDRF teams ready across critical zones including Mumbai and Pune

Rain in Marathwada

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 18 teams across Maharashtra for rapid rescue and relief operations, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal monsoon rainfall this year, with urban areas like Mumbai already showing signs of strain, Mid-day reported.

Between May 25 and 26, NDRF teams responded to emergencies in Pune, Solapur, and Satara. While local agencies managed to rescue nine people in Baramati and Indapur, NDRF teams were redirected to Phaltan in Satara and Kurubavi in Solapur. In Solapur, a team carried out a midnight rescue operation, saving six people, including a child, trapped across a river due to flooding.

Currently, 18 NDRF teams from the 5th Battalion based in Pune are spread across Maharashtra. Twelve teams are stationed at the Pune headquarters, three in Mumbai, two in Nagpur, and one in Palghar.

The NDRF has identified several high-risk districts this monsoon season, including Pune, Kolhapur, Sangli, Sindhudurg, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Thane, and Mumbai. These areas are prone to flooding due to their terrain, river systems, and population density.

Accoring to the Mid-day report, NDRF has added new technologies to boost urban flood response. These include drone surveillance for aerial flood assessment, real-time tracking via the BISAG platform, and advanced gear like underwater cameras and body-worn devices for divers.

In Mumbai, heavy rains have already caused waterlogging in areas like Sion and Swami Vivekananda Road, disrupting daily life. Streets were submerged, traffic slowed, and commuters struggled through flooded roads.

The IMD has predicted above-normal rainfall for the 2025 monsoon, estimating it at 106 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 868.6 mm. Central and South India are likely to receive higher-than-average rainfall, while parts of Northeast and Northwest India may receive less than normal.

The weather department has issued a 'yellow' alert for Mumbai, an 'orange' alert for Pune, and a 'red' alert for Satara, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Kolhapur, warning of intense rainfall over the next 24 hours, the Republic World reported today morning.