The heavy showers have transformed Mahabaleshwar into a lush green spectacle, drawing thousands of visitors every weekend. But the heavy showers have also exposed the fragile state of its infrastructure, particularly its roads.
Kolhapur: Mahabaleshwar is witnessing one of its wettest monsoons in recent years, with rainfall already soaring 62% above 2020 levels and touching 138% of the normal seasonal average by the end of Aug. Yet, even relentless rain, pothole-ridden roads and traffic snarls have done little to dent the hill station’s popularity among tourists.
Data shows Mahabaleshwar has received 6,695mm of rainfall so far this monsoon, compared with 4,121mm in 2020, with this year’s July alone accounting for 4,096mm. Notably, Mahabaleshwar, with 6,695mm rainfall till Aug-end, has logged marginally higher rainfall than Cherrapunji’s 6,591mm during the same period this year.
Similar weather systems make places like Cherrapunji among the wettest regions in the country,” he said. With nearly a month of the monsoon remaining, the hill station is set to record one of its strongest rainy seasons in years. Weather enthusiast Shantanu Patil attributed the intense long spell of showers to both atmospheric and geographical factors. “The wind system developed and sustained for a long time along the western coast, causing continuous rain in the ghats through a massive moisture surge. Mahabaleshwar sits atop the ghat range. The ghats push up the clouds, making them denser, which is why there is long-term precipitation. Officials, however, say repair work will begin on a war footing as soon as weather conditions permit. Public works department minister Shivendraraje Bhosale and local MLA and relief and rehabilitation minister Makarand Patil have held a series of meetings with civic and highway authorities to improve road conditions. Monsoon on Overdrive Mahabaleshwar Rainfall Data