Mumbai: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Kolhapur, Palghar, Nashik, Pune and Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra with rain forecast for ‘heavy’ to ‘very heavy’ till July 14. The Meteorological Office has also issued an orange alert. Mumbai for the next 3 days. Three people went missing after the water level of several rivers in Nashik district rose due to heavy rains and incessant rains in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, while Mumbai and its adjoining areas received moderate rains on Monday.
Heavy rains have continued in Nashik district, raising the water level of several rivers and submerging several temples located at the foot of the Godavari river. The IMD has issued a ‘Red’ alert for Nashik district till July 14, which has predicted more than 20 cm of heavy rain in 24 hours. Pune district has also been receiving heavy rains for the past few days.
A release issued by the District Information Office (DIO) said that three people were washed away in a drain in Gadchiroli district of eastern Maharashtra in the last three days and their bodies were later retrieved.
In Gadchiroli, 353 people from 129 places affected by heavy rains have been shifted to safer places. Surgana in Nashik district received the highest rainfall of 238.8 mm, followed by Peth at 187.6 mm and Trimbakeshwar at 168 mm in the last 24 hours, an official said.
Municipal officials said that light to moderate rains occurred in Mumbai and its adjoining areas on Monday, but there was no report of water logging anywhere in the metropolis.
He said that the IMD has predicted moderate rain in the city and its suburbs in the next 24 hours, with heavy rain likely at isolated places. A landslide occurred on the road leading to the famous Bhimashankar temple in Pune district in the early hours of Monday following heavy rains, officials said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said a sustainable plan would be drafted to ensure that villages in Gadchiroli district are not cut off from other areas due to rains and floods every year. Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Gadchiroli district on Monday and reviewed the rain situation.
Shinde and Fadnavis inspected the Wainganga river and took stock of the flood situation. After chairing a review meeting with the officials, the Chief Minister said, “A permanent plan will be prepared for the villages of Gadchiroli which are cut off due to heavy rains and floods every year.”
He directed the officials to submit the proposal for preparation of the plan. Shinde said a government medical college and hospital in Gadchiroli, whose work is pending, would start soon. Gadchiroli has been raining heavily for the last three days. A total of 313 people from 11 villages have been shifted to aid centres.
Due to heavy rains last Saturday, the connectivity with 128 villages of the district was lost.