Traffic has been halted at Tamhini Ghat on the Raigad-Pune route following the debris from a landslide as a result of the heavy rains.
According to Raigad Police, "Traffic is stopped at Tamhini Ghat in the Raigad-Pune route due to a landslide. Traffic will be stopped for the next few hours until the debris is cleared." Speaking about the heavy rains in the district, Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase said, "It is raining heavily in the hilly areas of Pune in the Western Ghats. We have declared a holiday for all schools and colleges and we are monitoring the situation. We have appealed to industrial establishments to also give their employees a day off today, as in the next three hours, we are expecting heavy to moderately heavy rains in the Pune region." "A person died and one was injured due to a rockslide in Adharwadi village in Pune rural. Three people are trapped in a landslide in Dasve village in Lavasa city. NDRF has been sent for search and rescue. Three people died due to electrocution in Pune city. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar are monitoring the situation," said the official. The Pune District Collector further appealed to citizens not to step out unnecessarily in the heavy downpours. Meanwhile, due to continuous rainfall in the catchment area of Khadakwasla Dam, the dam reached its full capacity on Thursday. As per information from the District Information Office, the Pune administration increased the speed and released the water into the Mutha River on Thursday at 6 a.m. at a rate of 40,000 cusecs. Earlier on Thursday, at 4 a.m., water was released at a speed of 27203 cusecs. An alert has been issued to the residents living along the riverbanks to be careful. Additionally, due to heavy rains in Pune on Wednesday night, water entered the houses and buildings located in Ekta Nagri and Vitthal Nagar areas. The Pune Fire Department has brought boats to evacuate the people from the residences. Orders have been given by District Magistrate Suhas Diwas to keep the schools in Pune closed as the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert in Pune city, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Bhor, Velha, Maval, Mulshi, Haveli and the Khadakwasla areas. Advisories have also been issued to the public to stay indoors and venture out only if necessary additionally, the Indian Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Maharashtra on Thursday and has predicted extremely heavy rainfall. The Brihan Mumbai Metropolitan Council (BMC) said that on Thursday and Friday, there would be moderate to heavy rain in the city and suburbs, with the possibility of very heavy rainfall at isolated places. Occasional gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph are very likely. A high tide is expected at 2:51 PM on Thursday. Mumbai city and suburbs are experiencing moderate to heavy rains and heavy rains at some places. (ANI)
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