Pune gets wet blanket treatment

Many parts of the city on both banks of the Mutha river were affected by floodwaters on Saturday as 67,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water, the maximum in the season, was released from Khadakwasla dam due to incessant rainfall for 24 hours.

Deputy municipal commissioner and incharge of the disaster management cell of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Praveen Ashtikar, told the media that about 100 people had to be shifted in the city. By late evening, the flood situation was under control as the rainfall in dams upstream had reduced.

Disaster management officer (DMO), Ganesh Sonune, said that during the day, there was heavy rainfall in the dams of Panshet (127 mm from 7 am to 6 pm), Warasgaon (134 mm), Temghar (99 mm) and Khadakwasla (101 mm). Due to heavy rainfall in the dams, the water resources department released water from the Khadakwasla dam into the Mutha river.

He said during the day, the discharge of water increased to 67,000 cusecs. Due to the heavy discharge of water, about 39 areas on both banks of the river were affected.

About 45 people were shifted from flood-affected area in Warje Tapodham area to a nearby school. In Bhimnagar area in Mangalwar Peth, another 40 people had to be shifted to a safer place.

In the evening, the water flow at Bund Garden area was 1,54,000 cusecs, much more than the danger level of 1,18,000 cusec. Hence, the residents of Tadiwala Road area were alerted.   

As the water resources department decided to release water from Khadakwasla dam at 8 am, the disaster management cell started alerting people on both banks of the river and the Bhide Bridge in Deccan Gymkhana area was closed for traffic.

By the evening, the Jayantrao Tilak Bridge in front of the PMC head office got submerged. The Omkareshwar temple located in Shaniwar Peth was also flooded.

The flood affected areas in the city were — Kondhwe Dhavade, Warje, Khilare Vasti in Erandwane, Pulachi Wadi in Deccan Gymkhana area, Tophkhana, the slum near the district court, Wadgaon, Hingne, Poona Hospital area, Narayan Peth, parts of Shaniwar Peth, Sheikhsalla Dargah, Dengale Bridge, Mangalwar Peth, Tadiwala Road, Kalas, Yerawada, Aundh, Bopodi, Harris Bridge and Mula Road.