Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra get triple-digit rainfall

PUNE: Triple-digit rainfall lashed parts of Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra in the 24 hours ending 8.30am on Tuesday. The Met department has forecast extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places in Maharashtra and a red alert for some locations in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Satara. Extremely heavy showers are likely in the ghat regions of Pune on July 7-8.
Locations in Konkan such as Lanja (340mm), Tala (250mm), Mangaon, Vaibhavwadi, Malvan (230mm each) recorded extremely heavy rains during the 24 hours till 8.30am on Tuesday. Similar rainfall was seen in areas in Madhya Maharashtra like Gaganbawada (260mm), Mahabaleshwar (150mm) and Radhanagari (110mm).
The water level of the Panchaganga river in Kolhapur rose 10 feet in 24 hours. On the other hand, Nashik city may face water cuts from July 15 if the rains are not adequate.
Chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday held a meeting with senior officials regarding the flood-like situation in several parts of the state and asked guardian secretaries to keep a watch on their districts. In the absence of a full-fledged cabinet, there are no guardian ministers.
"As a red alert has been issued, the administration has been asked to take necessary steps and all response systems have been put in place," Shinde said. "All districts in Konkan region have received heavy to very heavy rainfall. Rescue teams are on alert and district collectors have been asked to shift people to safer areas. I have also asked the chief secretary to direct all guardian secretaries to visit their respective districts and coordinate with the NDRF, air force, navy and other agencies."
He said water levels have gone down at some places after rainfall reduced by evening.
All districts in Konkan region-Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg-have received over 150mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8.30am Tuesday. Minor landslide incidents have also been reported.
As heavy rain battered several parts of Maharashtra, especially the Konkan region, over 3,500 people living in flood-prone and vulnerable spots have been evacuated and shifted to safer locations. While 11 rescue teams have been deployed across the state, and 13 teams have been kept on standby. Most of the evacuation has been done in Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindudurg districts.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places in Maharashtra and issued a red alert for locations in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Satara.
On Tuesday, Kolhapur district received 50.2mm rainfall in a 24-hour period, with Gaganbawda alone getting 190.8mm rainfall, which was the highest in the district. Shirol, meanwhile, received the least with 8.1mm. As many as 20 barrages in the district were submerged. The discharge from the Radhanagari dam has been increased to 1,100 cusecs due to the downpour in the catchment areas.
As a precautionary measure, two NDRF units were sent to Kolhapur from Pune. The units reached Kolhapur on Tuesday night. One team will be deployed for the Kolhapur city and surrounding areas, while the second team will be stationed at Shirol tehsil, on the confluence of the Krishna and Panchaganga rivers.
The IIMD has predicted heavy rain in parts of Nashik for over 72 hours starting July 6. It is expected to rain heavily in Igatpuri and Trimbakeshwar though other areas have not been ruled out. The district administration has sounded an alert in all talukas.