Maharashtra Rains: Drone Footage Captures Flooded Kolhapur As Panchganga River Nears Warning Level

Last Updated:July 07, 2026, 07:31 IST

Heavy rain has submerged 56 weirs in Kolhapur, damaged roads and shut three state highways as authorities remain on alert amid fears of further flooding.

Drone footage from Maharashtra’s Kolhapur has offered an aerial view of the flood situation unfolding in the district, where relentless overnight rainfall has caused the Panchganga River to swell rapidly, inundating several areas and disrupting road connectivity.

The videos capture vast stretches of Kolhapur from above, showing floodwaters spread across low-lying areas as the Panchganga River continues to rise towards the warning level.

The visuals also highlight the sheer volume of water flowing through the river, underscoring the impact of the continuing monsoon spell in western Maharashtra.

According to information accompanying the footage, continuous rainfall through the night has significantly increased the Panchganga River’s water level.

As a result, 56 weirs across Kolhapur district have been submerged, and floodwaters have overtopped several crossing points.

The strong current has also washed away part of the road near the Mangle Weir, disrupting traffic in the area.

Authorities have shut three state highways following the damage and rising water levels, affecting connectivity in parts of the district.

The situation remains a cause for concern as heavy rainfall continues in the catchment areas of dams feeding the river system.

Several smaller dams have already reached their full storage capacity, raising the possibility of further flooding if the rains persist.

The latest visuals come as Maharashtra continues to battle an intense monsoon spell that has triggered widespread disruption in several districts.

According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), heavy rainfall is likely to intensify further in many parts of the state, and citizens have been urged to strictly follow official advisories issued by the administration from time to time.

As part of monsoon preparedness, 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been pre-positioned across Maharashtra.

Two teams each have been deployed in Palghar and Nagpur, while one team each has been stationed in Pune, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli and Dharashiv.

Four teams have been stationed in Mumbai.

Additionally, six State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been kept ready for deployment, according to the IANS report.

The SEOC had earlier reported exceptionally heavy rainfall in several parts of the state, including Mumbai, Lonavala, Tamhini, Ambona, Mulshi, Matheran and Karjat.

It also warned of an increased landslide risk in Matheran, Lonavala, Khopoli and Lohagad, where a Red Alert has been issued.

The state has already witnessed multiple rain-related incidents over the past two days.

Traffic on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway was suspended after a landslide at Kashedi Ghat, while the old highway at Khopoli was closed due to waterlogging.

On the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, traffic in both directions was halted after a landslide on the Missing Link stretch, and railway services between Monkey Hill and Thakurwadi were suspended because of landslides.

The SEOC said rescue operations are continuing in coordination with district administrations and disaster response agencies.

It is also using the Geographic Information Systems Decision Support System (GEO-DSS) to carry out detailed risk and vulnerability assessments and issue timely alerts.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

News india Maharashtra Rains: Drone Footage Captures Flooded Kolhapur As Panchganga River Nears Warning Level

Read More