Heavy Rainfall in Maharashtra Forces Water Release from Khadakwasla Dam, Causes Waterlogging in Mumbai

Continuous heavy rainfall in Maharashtra, particularly in the catchment area of Khadakwasla Dam, has led to the dam reaching its full capacity. Consequently, the Pune administration began releasing water into the Mutha River at a rate of 40,000 cusecs at 6 a.m. on July 25, following an earlier release of 27,203 cusecs at 4 a.m. the same day.

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Pune and Surrounding Areas Affected by Heavy Rainfall in Maharashtra

Water Release: The heavy rainfall in Maharashtra has prompted an alert for residents along the riverbanks to be cautious.
Evacuations: The heavy rains on Wednesday night caused water to enter homes and buildings in Ekta Nagri and Vitthal Nagar areas. The Pune Fire Department has deployed boats to evacuate residents.
Weather Warnings: The District Information Office has forecast gusty winds (50-60 km/h) in Palghar, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and moderate rain in Kolhapur and the Ghat areas of Pune.
School Closures: District Magistrate Suhas Diwas ordered schools in Pune to remain closed, following the Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) red alert for Pune city, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Bhor, Velha, Maval, Mulshi, Haveli, and Khadakwasla.

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Mumbai and Konkan Region Struggle with Heavy Rainfall in Maharashtra

Rainfall and Alerts: The IMD issued a red alert for Maharashtra, predicting extremely heavy rainfall. An orange alert was also issued, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall (115.6 to 204.4 mm) from July 26 to July 27 in Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts.
Public Transport Disruptions: In Mumbai, persistent rainfall led to waterlogging, particularly in low-lying areas. The Andheri Subway has been closed for vehicular movement. Public transport services have been disrupted, causing inconvenience to commuters.
Rainfall Measurements: From 8 a.m. on July 24 to 8 a.m. on July 25, Mumbai recorded 44 mm of rainfall in the city, 90 mm in the eastern suburbs, and 88 mm in the western suburbs.
Tides: A high tide of 4.64 meters is expected at 2:51 p.m., and a low tide of 1 meter at 9 p.m.
Lake Overflow: Vihar Lake, one of Mumbai's water supply lakes, began overflowing at 3:50 a.m. on July 25. Its full storage capacity is 2,769.8 crore litres (27,698 million litres).

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Advisories and Precautions During Heavy Rainfall in Maharashtra

Residents are advised to stay indoors and only venture out if necessary.
Authorities have issued advisories to the public in affected areas, urging caution and preparation for potential further disruptions.

The heavy rainfall in Maharashtra and subsequent flooding highlight the ongoing challenges faced by residents and authorities in managing the impacts of extreme weather in the region.

News Source:- thehindu.com