Cloudburst-Like Rain Triggers Flash Flood in Shahapur; One Tourist Dead, Another Missing
Thane, 27th July 2026: A cloudburst-like spell of heavy rain in Shahapur taluka of Thane district triggered flash floods on Sunday, sweeping away five tourists at Chonde Waterfall in the Dolkhamb area. One tourist lost his life, another remains missing, while three others were rescued by local residents.
According to officials, the sudden downpour caused rivers and streams in the hilly region to swell rapidly, creating dangerous flood conditions. The group of tourists, who had travelled from Kalyan for a monsoon outing, was caught in the strong current after a massive surge of water rushed through the waterfall.
The deceased has been identified as Akash Deshmukh (29), who drowned in the incident. Dinesh Mandalkar is still missing, and search operations are underway. Three others Nitesh Patil, Ajay Murkute, and Prasad Iganda were rescued with the help of villagers. A video of the dramatic rescue has also surfaced on social media.
In a separate incident on the same day, Omprakash Verma (40) from Thane went missing after being swept away while swimming in the Lenadi River in Shahapur. Verma had reportedly visited the area with friends. Rescue teams suspended operations after nightfall and resumed the search on Monday.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for the Konkan region and the Western Ghats, forecasting moderate to heavy rainfall at isolated places. A Yellow Alert has been issued for Vidarbha, North Maharashtra, and Marathwada, where thunderstorms and scattered showers are expected.
The IMD recorded 170 mm of rainfall in Tamhini, the highest in Maharashtra during the period. Extremely heavy rainfall is likely over the ghat regions of Raigad, Ratnagiri, Pune, and Satara, while heavy showers are also expected in Thane, Mumbai, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli.
Authorities have urged residents and tourists to avoid waterfalls, overflowing rivers, and flood-prone areas during the ongoing spell of intense monsoon rainfall. Rescue agencies remain on alert as adverse weather conditions continue across several parts of the state.
