Pune: 11 dead after heavy rains; schools and colleges shut
Incessant rainfall since Wednesday night has thrown normal life out of gear in Pune, with at least eleven people losing their lives in rain-related incidents. Water logging was reported from areas like Sinhagad Road, Dhanakwadi, Balajinagar, Ambegaon, Sahakar Nagar, Parvati, Kolhewadi and Kirkatwadi. Meanwhile, the downpour took a break in the early hours of Thursday. Here's the update on the ground situation.
On Wednesday, a wall collapsed in Sakhar Nagar area, reportedly due to overflowing water in a nearby canal, killing five people. At least four people are missing after the incident. The deceased include a 13-year-old named Rohit Bharat Amle, and Santosh Kadam, said to be 55 years old. Two women and a 9-year-old kid were the other casualties, HT reports.
One of the three teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), deployed to assist people found the body of a man, identified as 52-year-old Dattatray Girme, inside a black Honda I-Vtec car. Meanwhile, the fire brigade also found a female body from an overflowing canal near Mahadji Shinde High School in Sahakar Nagar area. The identity of the woman wasn't ascertained immediately.
A flood-like situation erupted in several societies of Pune. In Mitra Mandal area, few cars were washed away, roads were closed, and residents struggled in the absence of water and electricity. Considering the downpour, District Collector Naval Kishore Ram ordered that all schools and colleges would remain shut in Pune city, Purandar, Baramati, Bhor and Haveli tehsil.
Giving an update on the rains, Maharashtra's Mantralaya Control Room released a statement, revealing that there are only mild showers in some parts of the city, and that the intensity has reduced. "Water logging at most places has reduced and NDRF teams have been deployed to places from where reports have been received of people being stranded," the statement went on.
Primary report regarding flood situation in Pune District 26th September,2019 at 0915 hrs@PIBHomeAffairs @ndmaindia @NDRFHQ @CMOMaharashtra @MahaDGIPR pic.twitter.com/2mGKnsdUqi
— Mantralaya Control Room, Maharashtra (@MantralayaRoom) September 26, 2019
Reacting to the distressing piece of news, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said he was pained to learn about the deaths in Pune and other areas. "My deepest condolences to the families. We are providing all possible assistance needed. State disaster management officials & control room in continuous touch with Pune collector and PMC," he tweeted. He added state government was monitoring the dam discharge.
2 NDRF teams are deployed in Pune 2 in Baramati.
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) September 26, 2019
One more NDRF team is on way to Baramati.
State Government is also closely monitoring the dam discharge.
