Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 25: at least four people have been killed and 12 others were injured in rain-related incidents across Maharashtra on Thursday as heavy rains continue to lash most parts of the state with the weather bureau forecasting more rains till Friday.
Official sources said while three men died of electrocution in Deccan area in Pune when they were 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 Tahmini ghat section in Mulshi tehsil.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Pune, Mumbai, Palghar, Thane and Raigad. The Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said if the need arises, the rain-hit people would be airlifted in Pune, where incessant downpours have claimed four lives and inundated residential colonies and houses in low-lying areas. Mr Shinde said he has spoken to the Pune district collector and civic body chiefs in the city and its neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad, an industrial township.
Rains battered most parts of Thane district, leading to widespread flooding and necessitating rescue operations in Ambernath and some other areas. In Ambernath, 18 elderly residents of Sahavas old age home were relocated to upper floors at another old age home in Maher. Similarly, 30 children and staff from Satkarma ashram were rescued and shifted to Pragati Andha Vidyalaya.
As many as 200 persons were evacuated to BSUP building. In Kalyan, 40 families, comprising 156 persons, were relocated as a precautionary measure. Water levels exceeded the danger level in Badlapur barrage, Jambul dam, Mohane dam and Ulhas river in Kalyan, reports said.
The villages of Mohane, Varap, Valdhuni, Kalyan, Ane, Bhisol, Rayte, Apti, Dahagaon, and Manjarli in Kalyan taluka; Ambernath, Badlapur, Eranjad, Kudsavre, Kanhere, and Kasgaon in Ambernath taluka; Shahad, Ulhasnagar, and Mharal in Ulhasnagar taluka; and Dive Agar and Rajnoli in Bhiwandi taluka were affected due to flooding, district officials said.
With the lakes supplying water to the city filling up fast, the BMC announced withdrawal of the 10% water cut in Mumbai from July 29. The decision was taken in view of the satisfactory rainfall in the catchment areas of the lakes. The BMC, nonetheless, appealed people to use water judiciously. The water cut in Thane, Bhiwandi cities and surrounding rural areas — which also get water from the BMC — too will be revoked. The water stock has reached 66.77%, and four of the seven lakes supplying water to Mumbai — Tulsi, Tansa, Vihar, and Modaksagar — are already overflowing, the release said.
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a warning of very heavy rainfall in isolated places in areas of Raigad and Ratnagiri until Friday morning. Areas of Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, and Sindhudurg can also expect heavy to very heavy rainfall until Friday morning.
The IMD on Thursday said the presence of the Shear zone along 22 degrees N which is tilting southwards with height, and the presence of a shore trough from south Gujarat to the North Kerala coast and strong westerly winds were the major weather systems contributing to heavy rainfall.
