Heavy overnight rainfall triggered multiple landslides across the Mumbai-Pune transport corridor on Monday, paralysing rail services through the Bhor Ghat section, shutting a key stretch of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and compounding a day of severe flight disruptions at Mumbai's international airport.

The disruption forced Central Railway to cancel, divert and reschedule a large number of services. Central Railway also short-terminated, rescheduled and diverted several long-distance trains. Passengers have been advised to check train status before travelling, as services will resume only after the affected tracks are declared safe.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the situation on Monday and directed officials to expedite restoration work on the Ghat section. "I have reviewed the situation arising out of heavy landslides and boulders falling onto the railway tracks in the Mumbai-Pune Ghat section," Vaishnaw said, adding that with more rain forecast for the day, he had instructed officers of both Western and Central Railways to work as a single team to restore all train services at the earliest.

Central Railway said 16 trains scheduled for July 6 have been cancelled due to the disruption. These include:

• 22105 – CSMT–Pune Indrayani Express

• 12169 – Pune Junction–Solapur Intercity Express

• 12170 – Solapur–Pune Junction Intercity Express

• 22106 – Pune–CSMT Indrayani Express

• 12127 – CSMT–Pune Intercity Express

• 12128 – Pune–CSMT Intercity Express

• 11007 – CSMT–Pune Deccan Express

• 11008 – Pune–CSMT Deccan Express

• 12124 – Pune–CSMT Deccan Queen

• 12123 – CSMT–Pune Deccan Queen

• 12126 – Pune–CSMT Pragati Express

• 12125 – CSMT–Pune Pragati Express

• 11010 – Pune–CSMT Sinhagad Express

• 11009 – CSMT–Pune Sinhagad Express

• 11011 – CSMT–Dhule Express

• 11012 – Dhule–CSMT Express

The most significant rail disruption struck the Karjat-Lonavala section, one of the busiest stretches on the Central Railway network. According to Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, the first landslide occurred near Thakurwadi in the Bhor Ghat section, with a second landslide reported on the middle railway line between Khandala and Monkey Hill at around 3.05 am.

Officials attributed the slides to incessant heavy rainfall in the South East Ghat section between Karjat and Lonavala, with debris falling between Thakurvadi and the Monkey Hill Loop Cabin on the Up Main Line of the Mumbai Division.

The damage was severe enough to affect the entire corridor's operating capacity. The Bhor Ghat section runs on three tracks — the Up line towards Mumbai, the Down line towards Pune, and a Middle line — and all three were affected by the landslides, making train operations impossible until debris is cleared and safety inspections are completed.

Flight Services Affected

Meanwhile, four IndiGo flights were cancelled and 13 incoming flights operated by various airlines were diverted to nearby airports after heavy rain and strong winds prompted Mumbai International Airport authorities to halt all runway operations for an hour on Sunday. On Monday, IndiGo also issued a travel advisory warning that flight schedules could be affected by adverse weather conditions in Mumbai.