State legislature proceedings adjourned amid extreme weather: CM Fadnavis

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Monday. PIC/X

Calling the current weather conditions in Maharashtra "unprecedented," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said nearly 350 trees fell across the state in a single day, compared to an annual average of about 800 tree falls.

He warned that wind speeds could intensify to 70-90 kmph from Tuesday afternoon, with rainfall expected to become even heavier, and urged citizens - especially youngsters - to avoid visiting seafronts, waterfalls and monsoon tourist spots.

Due to the severe weather warning, proceedings of the state legislature were adjourned for the day to avoid inconvenience to members, staff, and the public.

Fadnavis said the government is prepared to handle the situation and confirmed that all disaster management teams have been deployed. He added that entry on the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link was stopped immediately after landslides, and stranded vehicles are being guided to safety.

He also announced that he would review the situation in a meeting at noon on Tuesday, stating that the administration will issue further directions based on ground conditions.

Referring to the Mankhurd chawl collapse that killed six people, CM Fadnavis said the structure was illegal and the victims were from an adjoining slum area.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar appealed for cooperation from all members to ensure effective implementation of relief and rescue operations.

The opposition, however, demanded a detailed statement from the government on preparedness and relief measures, as Maharashtra continues to grapple with intense monsoon activity.