The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation in Pune district issued a red alert to residents living along the Pavana and Mula rivers as heavy rain continued to pour down, causing dams to overflow and forcing authorities to release water from reservoirs.
As a result, around 11 people were relocated to safer areas, amid the urgent need to evacuate those at risk.
Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh asserted that the heavy rain caused flooding in several areas, including housing societies in Sanjay Gandhi Nagar and Subhash Nagar, with water entering the homes. “We took the help of police to shift the residents. Some people refused to move out of their houses…We took the help of police to move them out,” he said.
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The displaced citizens were relocated to civic schools, where they are being provided with basic necessities such as food, water, and medicine. On Sunday, the PCMC Chief reported, the discharge from the Pavana dam was 9,000 cusecs, while the Mulshi dam released 27,000 cusecs.
“Though it rained incessantly since yesterday, late Sunday afternoon and evening, the intensity of the rain slowed down. But we are cautious and are shifting people to safe places. Though we shifted 1,100 people, many have gone to their relatives’ place,” he said.
Also Read:Pune rains: 4 dead, schools shut, roads inundated as heavy rains batter Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad
Singh noted that the discharge from the Khadakvasla dam into the Mutha River has also led to increased water levels in the Pavana and Mula rivers. “The backwaters of Mutha rivers leads to swelling of Pavana and Mula rivers,” he explained.
In preparation for a potential worsening of the situation, a team of NDRF personnel has been stationed at Chinchwad. The team arrived in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Sunday morning, ready to respond if needed. Meanwhile, residents like Domnic Lobo, who lives near the Mula river, have already taken precautions, relocating to safer areas after the water level rose to 15 feet.
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CM Eknath Shinde to visit flood-affected areas, orange alert in place
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is set to visit the flood-affected areas of Pune on Monday. He will meet with the district administration and other agencies involved in disaster relief efforts.
The city has been experiencing persistent heavy rain for the past few days. In response to the continuous rainfall and the release of excess water from the Khadakwasla Dam, the Indian Army conducted relief operations in the Ekta Nagar area on Sunday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Pune on Monday, predicting “heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in ghat areas” and “light to moderate rain in plains.”
The IMD also forecasts heavy rainfall at isolated places in the ghat areas and light to moderate rainfall in the plains for August 6, with moderate rainfall expected on August 7.