Schools and colleges will remain shut in Pune and nearby areas as death toll due to floods following heavy rains mounted to 10 on Thursday.
Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram has declared a holiday in schools and colleges of Pune city, Purandar, Baramati, Bhor and Haveli Tehsils. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his condolence over the loss of lives due to rains and said that the government is providing all the necessary help.
Three NDRF teams have been deployed in Pune and Baramati to carry out search and rescue operations. Meanwhile, the state government is also closely monitoring the dam discharge, Fadnavis said.
Six people were killed after a wall collapsed in Sahkarnagar area on Wednesday while four others died in other rain-related incidents. Almost 150 houses are damaged due to a sudden flow of water from upstream with full force. On Thursday morning, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) recovered a body from a vehicle in a canal near Sinhagad road in Pune. On Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted severe thunderstorm in Mumbai and adjoining regions of Maharashtra.
Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in parts of Pune city. Several low-lying areas in and around Pune were flooded as heavy rain lashed the city, news agency ANI reported. At least eleven people have lost their lives in different rain-related incidents in Pune since Wednesday. While five people were killed after a wall collapsed in Sahakar Nagar area following heavy rainfall on Wednesday, one person was found dead in the same locality. Another body was found in a car which was washed away near Sinhgad road.In view of the bad weather, Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram has declared holiday on Thursday in all schools and colleges in Purandar, Baramati, Bhor and Haveli tehsil.
Water-logging was reported in Sinhgad Road, Dhanakwadi, Balajinagar, Ambegaon, Sahakar Nagar, Parvati, Kolhewadi and Kirkatwadi. Fire Brigade chief Prashant Ranpise said that officials are helping the people stranded in flooded areas. In Kshitij Society of Bibwewadi region, a tree collapsed of parked vehicles causing heavy damages. In Hinjewadi and Wakad, rains caused heavy traffic jam in the evening. Several commuters including employees of major IT companies were left stranded for hours.
