Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar takes stock of rain situation in Pune, issues instructions for assistance

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], July 25 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took stock of the rain situation in Pune district headquarters after heavy downpours in various parts of the district.

The Deputy Chief Minister talked about relief measures with the district collector and the district disaster management chief, said sources from the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).

He instructed the authorities to provide all the necessary assistance to the affected people, especially in Khadagwasla and Pimpri Chinchwad, etc., which are worst affected after heavy rains.

Pawar issued instructions to the administration as well as the disaster relief system to be vigilant and provide immediate relief to the citizens as heavy rains are occurring in Khadakwasla and most parts of the district.

The citizens of Pune city, Pimpri Chinchwad and rural areas of the district have been requested to take necessary care, contact the nearest administrative system immediately in case of emergency, avoid going out of the house without an important reason.

Incessant rain has led to severe waterlogging in Pune and Kolhapur, crippling normal life and prompting schools to shut down.

The Palghar Collector earlier in the day announced a holiday for all the schools and colleges after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Palghar district, predicting a possibility of heavy rain.

Meanwhile, due to a landslide at Tamhini Ghat on the Raigad-Pune route, traffic has been halted on this Ghat route until the debris is cleared, said the police.

Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase spoke to ANI on the heavy rains and said, “It is raining heavily in the hilly areas of Pune in the Western Ghats. We have declared a holiday for all schools, colleges and we are monitoring the situation. We have appealed to industrial establishments also to give their employees a day off today, as in the next three hours, we are expecting heavy to moderately heavy rains in the Pune region.”

“A person died and one was injured due to a rockslide in Adharwadi village in Pune rural. Three people are trapped in a landslide in Dasve village in Lavasa city. NDRF has been sent for search and rescue. Three people died due to electrocution in Pune city. The CM and DCM, Ajit Pawar, are monitoring the situation. I would like to appeal to citizens not to step out unnecessarily,” he said.

Additionally, due to continuous rainfall in Pune on Thursday, the catchment area of Khadakwasla Dam had reached its full capacity.

The Pune administration increased the speed and released the water into the Mutha River today at 6 a.m. at the rate of 40,000 cusecs, as per information from the District Information Office.

Earlier on Thursday, at 4 a.m., water was released at a speed of 27203 cusecs.

An alert has been issued to the residents living along the riverbanks to be careful.

Additionally, due to heavy rains in Pune on Wednesday night, water entered the houses and buildings located in the Ekta Nagri and Vitthal Nagar areas. The Pune Fire Department has brought boats to evacuate the people from the residences.

Additionally, in Mumbai, the Vihar Lake, which is one of the seven lakes supplying water to the entire city, started overflowing at 3:50 a.m. on Thursday. The full storage capacity of the Vihar Lake is 2,769.8 crore litres.

Advisories have also been issued to the public to stay indoors and venture out only if necessary.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Maharashtra on Thursday and has predicted extremely heavy rainfall.

IMD Director Sunil Kambe said, “Monsoon is very active in Maharashtra. We issued a red alert for Pune yesterday and the city recorded 114 mm of rain and in the Ghat areas, more than 200 mm of rain has been recorded. Mumbai has also received more than 65 mm of rain during the last 24 hours. Today, a yellow alert has been issued in Mumbai and an orange alert for Pune.