Schools, Colleges to Remain Shut in Thane, Pune; Mumbai on ‘Red’ Alert

Heavy rains lashed parts of eastern Rajasthan on Thursday, whereas several other places received light showers, according to the meteorological department here.

Rainfall is likely to continue in many parts of eastern Rajasthan and some parts of Bikaner division of western Rajasthan in the next four to five days, it added.

In most parts of the state, the maximum temperature dropped by up to four degrees Celsius, a Met spokesperson said.

According to the Jaipur Meteorological Centre, 20 cm rainfall was recorded in Dausa, 13 cm in Karauli, 11 cm in Baswa of Dausa, 9 cm in Baunli of Sawai Madhopur, 9 cm in Laxmangarh of Alwar, in the past 24 hours till 8.30 am.

From Thursday morning till 5.30 pm, 60.6 mm of rain was recorded in Kota, 32 mm in Sikar, 25.8 mm in the capital Jaipur, and drizzle in Chittorgarh and Bikaner, the weather bulletin showed.

Bikaner was the hottest in the state recording a high of 39.2 degrees Celsius, Jaisalmer 38.5 degrees Celsius, Ganganagar 38.2 degrees Celsius, Hanumangarh's Sangaria 38 degrees, Pilani 37.5 degrees, Phalodi 37.4 degrees, and Dholpur 37.2 degrees.

Heavy rains wreaked havoc in Maharashtra's Pune, where at least four persons died in rain-related incidents on Thursday, while low-lying areas were inundated.

Two people are feared trapped in one of the three bungalows buried under debris after a landslide in Lavasa in the morning, a police official said.

Pune fire brigade officials said two people are feared drowned in Katraj and Nanayan Peth area but added that no further details were available.

During his tour of the district in the afternoon, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said as a precautionary measure, Army teams have been deployed at Ekta Nagar in Sinhagad Road, while NDRF personnel are also in the area.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a 'red alert' for Pune district and asked people to take precautions. Schools and colleges in most parts of the district have declared a holiday in view of the heavy rainfall warning, officials said.

Pune city and other parts of the district, including Velha, Mulshi, Bhor talukas and the catchments areas of several dams, including Khadakwasla, have been witnessing incessant rains since Wednesday night.

Shivajinagar in Pune city received 114 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Thursday, the third-highest in a single day in 66 years, according to India Meteorological Department.

At 130.4 mm, the highest 24-hour July rainfall in Shivajinagar in central Pune was recorded on July 19, 1958, followed by 117.9 mm on July 27, 1967, they said.

Citing data from the Shivajinagar weather station, officials said the area received 114 mm of rain between 8.30 am on Wednesday and 8.30 am on Thursday.

Heavy rains since Wednesday evening have wreaked havoc in Pune, where at least four persons died in rain-related incidents on Thursday, while several houses and residential societies in low-lying areas in the city were inundated, prompting evacuation, as per officials.

According to the IMD, the rainfall in the Lavasa area in Mulshi tehsil of Pune district stood at 455.5 mm in 24 hours (between 8.30 am on Wednesday and 8.30 am on Thursday), followed by Lonavala (322 mm), Nimgiri (232 mm), Malin (180 mm), Chinchwad (175 mm), Talegaon (167 mm), NDA (167 mm), and Lavale (166 mm).

Across Pune city, areas like Wadgaonsheri, Pashan, Shivajinagar and Hadapsar received rainfall between 108 mm and 140 mm in the 24 hours, said IMD officials.

Rains in several parts of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday caused water-logging, while the India Meteorological Department forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorm and lightning on Friday as well.

The sluice gates of some dams were opened to manage the water level, officials said.

Some videos circulating on social media showed flooded drains. In Katni district, railway staff patrolling flooded tracks were seen guiding the driver of a locomotive.

In a release, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation said it was suspending services on at least a dozen routes in the district due to water flowing above bridge decks.

These comprise five routes in Murbad, as well as those serviced by Wada, Thane, Kalyan and Vithalwadi depots.

"Bridges in Kishore, Pali, Badlapur, Eranjad, Chikla, Shivdholi, Mhasa are under water, while a tree fell on the road in Sakhra," the MSRTC release informed.

Tugboat drifts due to engine failure amid bad weather in Raigad, all sailors safe

A total of 11 flights cancelled and 10 diverted from Mumbai airport due to rainfall. Flights were diverted to Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad, Indore and Mopa. 

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday has issued a heavy rainfall alert for Mumbai, Palghar, Thane and Sindhudurg till July 26. 

Schools and colleges in Thane to remain closed tomorrow in the wake of heavy rainfall alert, said Thane Municipal Corporation.

On the impact of heavy rainfall on the railways, CPRO Central Railways, Swapnil Dhanraj Nila says, "Due to heavy rain, loco pilots have to decrease the speed as the visibility decreases due to wind and rain and it affects the punctuality... Municipal corporation, KDMC and MCGA have warned people not to come out but only in an emergency situation as there was a red alert in place... We are monitoring the situation and we will take steps for safety measures as needed at times..."

NDRF team at Pune’s Ekta Nagar provides drinking water to locals 

Owing to Ulhas river water entering the Mohili water treatment plant, the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) closed the plant for the time being. 

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar visits flood-affected areas in Ekta Nagar and Vitthal Nagar of Pune city to take stock of the situation.

Landslide occurred at Indian Ocean Cooperative Housing Society in Mumbai’s Andheri West earlier on Thursday damaging a car. 

Morya Gosavi Ganpati Mandir in Pimpri-Chinchwad submerges as the region witnesses incessant heavy rainfall.

As the weather department issued a red alert for Mumbai and an orange alert for Pune, high tide hit Marine Drive on Thursday. 

A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) responded to a landslide emergency in Lavasa, Maharashtra. The incident, triggered by heavy rains, resulted in significant damage to the road leading to the landslide site, complicating rescue efforts. They initiated rescue operations aimed at extracting two to three individuals trapped under the debris.

While speaking to Republic TV, Dr Naresh Kumar said, “Maharashtra is expected to continue experiencing extreme weather conditions."

The Manjara dam in Maharashtra’s Beed district, one of the three reservoirs in the Marathwada region where water levels had dropped to “zero per cent,” has begun receiving water following rains in its catchment area, an official reported on Thursday. READ FULL STORY HERE