Heavy Rains and Landslides Shut Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Old Highway

Traffic on both the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the old Pune-Mumbai highway was suspended on Monday following heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides. The severe weather triggered a landslide at Patan village near Lohgad Fort, where a rescue operation was launched to reach a trapped family, while flood-like conditions developed across Maval and Tamhini Ghat.

Local police and authorities issued a public advisory appealing to citizens to avoid travelling between Pune and Mumbai until further notice. Travelers were urged to postpone their journeys and monitor traffic updates issued by government agencies.

According to the police, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was closed between the Connecting Link and Missing Link sections after a concrete pillar fell onto the carriageway. The old Pune-Mumbai highway was also shut down due to overflowing water at multiple locations.

Traffic on the Pune-to-Mumbai carriageway of the Khopoli-Kusgaon ‘Missing Link’ alignment was diverted starting at 4:00 a.m. on Monday. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRDC) implemented the diversion as a precautionary measure following a landslide near the exit of Tunnel 2.

The 13-kilometer Missing Link bypass, which opened two months ago through the Sahyadri mountains, is designed to reduce travel distance by 6 kilometers and save 25 to 30 minutes of travel time.

Due to the closures, motorists faced severe delays. One traveler journeying from Sangli to Mumbai reported being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic through Lonavala city since 4:00 a.m. after being diverted from the Missing Link.

The Highway Traffic Police control room confirmed that traffic in the Khandala Ghat section of the expressway was also disrupted due to waterlogging and landslides.

In response to the heavy rains and hazardous conditions, the Pune district administration declared a holiday for all schools.