Pune Floods: Torrential Rains Claim 4 Lives; Army Deployed For Rescue Operations

Heavy rain has caused severe waterlogging in various parts of Pune, disrupting normal life. Schools have been closed, and residential apartments in Pune’s Pimpri-Chinchwad are flooded. Three people were electrocuted while navigating a waterlogged street.

Mumbai and nearby areas like Thane are also experiencing heavy rainfall. Waterlogging has affected areas in Andheri, Sion, Chembur, Kurla, and Thane’s Mumbra. The Andheri Subway in Mumbai has been shut due to water accumulation.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation reported that Vihar Lake and Modak Sagar Lake, two of the seven lakes supplying water to the city, started overflowing today. The capacities of these lakes are 2,769 crore litres and 12,892 crore litres respectively.

In Pune, three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are conducting rescue operations in Ekta Nagar, Sinhgad Road, and Varje. Some areas have water levels reaching the waist. The Baba Bhide bridge on the Mutha river is submerged after the water level rose due to the rain.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has reviewed the situation and instructed the district administration to remain vigilant. Pune collector Suhas Diwase has ordered the closure of all tourist spots in the district for 48 hours and restricted traffic on bridges at risk of submersion. Residents are advised to stay indoors unless necessary.

Khadakwasla dam has reached full capacity, prompting an alert for residents along the Mutha riverbank.

In the Deccan Gymkhana area, three street food vendors, Abhishek Ghanekar, Akash Mane, and Shiva Parihar, were electrocuted while attempting to recover a handcart from a flooded street.

In Kolhapur, the Panchaganga river has crossed the danger mark, and the NDRF is assisting with evacuations in affected areas.