Heavy rainfall in Thane, Maharashtra, on August 18, 2025, led to severe waterlogging and a harrowing incident where two people were trapped inside their car in a flooded underpass. The underpass, which connects Narivali and Uttarshiv villages in Thane district, became inundated with rainwater, leaving the vehicle stranded in the deep water.
Showing extraordinary courage and community spirit, local residents jumped into action to rescue the stranded passengers. A video of the incident shows the car stuck in the flooded underpass with only a small amount of space visible above the water. Two locals are seen swimming towards the vehicle. One of them climbed onto the rear of the car and began pushing it in an attempt to move it to safety.
When it became clear that the car wasn't moving, the two passengers inside the vehicle exited through the windows and swam towards the road with the help of the rescuers. The selfless actions of these Thane residents averted a potential tragedy and highlighted the importance of community support during natural disasters.
The heavy rainfall that triggered this incident disrupted life across Thane, Mumbai, Palghar, Navi Mumbai, and Raigad. Schools and colleges were forced to shut down, roads were waterlogged, and traffic came to a standstill. Train and flight services were also affected. Thane city recorded over 100 mm of rainfall by 4:30 PM, further exacerbating the situation.
In addition to the underpass rescue, a landslide occurred in a hilly area in Kalyan, causing damage to four houses. No injuries were reported in the landslide. Elsewhere, rescue teams used boats to transport schoolchildren in Kalwa, where heavy flooding had disrupted movement. A boulder crash temporarily blocked traffic in Ghodbunder, but disaster management teams quickly cleared the debris. In Navi Mumbai, a man was swept away in a 'nullah' (drain) at Blue Diamond Square in Sector 28, and rescue efforts are ongoing.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Thane and Palghar, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall. Authorities have advised citizens to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary and have declared holidays for schools and colleges. Civic and disaster response teams are on high alert, working to remove blockages in drains and deploy additional pumps.
This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and urban flooding, as well as the resilience and bravery of ordinary citizens who step up to help those in need.
