Pune flooded after heavy rain, 3 electrocuted, Mumbai sees second wettest July
Incessant rain has led to severe waterlogging in Pune and Kolhapur, crippling normal life and prompting schools to shut. The situation is also grim in Mumbai, which has witnessed its second-wettest July ever with an overall rainfall of over 150 cm.
Several residential areas in Pune's Pimpri-Chinchwad have been flooded while four people died in rain-related incidents in the district.
State Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took stock of the situation and also spoke to Divisional Commissioners and other officials of Mumbai, Pune and Thane over the phone and gave instructions to maintain alertness and for rescue and relief work.
The heavy rains are likely to continue across the different areas of the state in the coming days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement.
In Pune, at least four persons lost their lives in rain-related incidents.
Three men died of electrocution in the Deccan area of the city while trying to move their handcart, on which they used to sell egg dishes, got submerged due to heavy rains, one person died and another one sustained injuries in a landslide in the Tahmini ghat section of the city.
Water is being released at the rate of 9,400 cusec from the Khadakwasla dam following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas in Pune. The district administration has also cautioned people living in low-lying areas to remain alert.
The IMD has issued a red alert for Pune for the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, in the state's Raigad district, the local administration declared a holiday for schools, colleges and other educational institutions on Thursday in the wake of heavy rainfall. A similar order has been issued for Palghar's Wada and Vikramgad sub-divisions.
The weather department has issued a 'red alert' for both the districts, located on the west coast of the districts.Meanwhile, in the Kolhapur district, an alert was issued as the Panchganga River was flowing just a few inches below the danger mark on Wednesday.
As per the figures, the water level of the Panchganga at Rajaram weir reached 42.2 feet, which is 8 inches below the danger mark of 43 feet.