Pune: Torrential downpour lashed the ghats of Pune district in the past 24 hours, with Tamhini recording an unprecedented 575mm rainfall and Lonavala 418mm, IMD data showed.Mulshi, too, recorded very heavy showers of 162mm, prompting the administration to shut schools in the ghat regions of Velha, Bhor, Maval, Mulshi, Khed, Ambegaon and Junnar talukas on Wednesday. Elsewhere in the state, exceptionally heavy rainfall was recorded in Bhira (568mm), Davdi (419mm), Dongerwadi (373mm) and Ambona (338mm).Disaster management officials said precautionary evacuations were carried out in Mulshi taluka because of potential landslide hazards. A total of 11 families — nine from Mauje Padalghar and two from Ramnagar — were shifted to Lavasa City. In Ambegaon taluka, five people who were trapped at a crematorium on the banks of the Ghod River at Mouje Ghodegaon were rescued with the help of a boat on Wednesday.In Pune city, traffic disruptions were reported with the temporary closure of the riverside road from Rajput slum to the municipal headquarters, Bhide bridge, and the Shivane-Nanded City road.A landslide was also reported at Ambade Ghat in Bhor taluka, but officials said debris was quickly cleared and traffic restored.Madhya Maharashtra emerged as the wettest region in the country till Wednesday morning, with the ghats of Pune and surrounding districts bearing the brunt of the exceptional showers. Tamhini in Pune district recorded 570mm of rain in 24 hours, while Lonavala ARG received 430 mm. Heavy spells were also registered at Mahabaleshwar in Satara (300mm), Radhanagari and Gaganbawada in Kolhapur (170mm each), Igatpuri in Nashik (160mm), Vadgaon Maval in Pune (150mm) and Shahuwadi in Kolhapur (120 mm).Close on its heels was Konkan and Goa, where several centres witnessed torrential showers. Matheran in Raigad topped the list with 440mm, followed by Panvel ARG, Karjat ARG (both Raigad) and Bhiwandi in Thane at 230mm each. Among the weather stations reporting 220mm of rain were Thane, Vikramgad in Palghar, Tala in Raigad and Savarde in Ratnagiri. In addition, Santacruz (Mumbai Suburban), Pen (Raigad) and Vasai (Palghar) measured 210mm each.Authorities issued an alert for the Krishna basin. Considering the heavy rainfall in the catchment above Almatti dam and water discharge from the Krishna (Kallol barrage) and Ghataprabha (Lolasur bridge), the inflow towards Almatti dam was raised from 2,00,000 cusecs to 2,50,000 cusecs by 9am on Wednesday.In Ratnagiri district, traffic was suspended on stretches in Dapoli-Khed and Jalgaon-Gavatlya roads because of heavy waterlogging. In Sangli city, 471 people were evacuated from flood-affected areas before the water could enter their homes. Most of them shifted to relatives’ houses, while some were accommodated in municipal shelters, officials said. A total of 4179 people have so far been evacuated in the state, the highest being in Raigad at 1,332.On Wednesday, several state rivers also crossed either the danger or the warning levels: Among them were the Jagbudi and Kodvali (Ratnagiri); Vaitran and Pinjal (Palghar) and Panchganga (Kolhapur).
