Many evacuated as water rises in Diva

THANE: Hundreds of residents staying along areas abutting the creek in Diva are being evacuated since Saturday evening after water levels in the inundated stretches have not receded. Deputy municipal commissioner Manish Joshi said it was a precautionary measure.
Officials said the sudden rise in water since Saturday morning left several areas along Diva Shil road and Dativili lake inundated. The water entered areas of the city along the creek, like Salvi Nagar and Omkar Nagar. The water did not recede even by evening, after which the administration embarked on the drive to evacuate residents and relocate them in schools and community halls nearby.
A civic official said they formed teams and were visiting areas since evening on foot or in inflatable boats, warning people to evacuate as the stretch could get inundated due to the release of water from the dam. Officials hinted that the number of those evacuated and rehabilitated in nearby schools could touch 1,500 considering the dense cluster of hutments and chawls in the stretches.
"The heavy rainfall, followed with sudden release of water from the dams, led to a sudden increase in water levels. We cautioned residents to relocate and helped those willing to go to safer places as we don't want to take a risk. The number of those temporarily evacuated could touch 2,000," said a senior civic official.
Activists said the stretches are dotted with chawls and hutments. "We assisted officials as the stretch could be inundated and make rescue operations difficult. The administration must stop mushrooming of tenements in such areas," said activist Adesh Bhagat. Manoj Badgeri