KOLHAPUR: The Panchaganga river water level in Kolhapur crossed the warning level of 39 feet during the day and touched 41.3 feet by 8pm on Thursday. Given the incessant rain, the water level is expected to reach the danger level of 43 feet late on Thursday night or early on Friday morning. As many as 111 barrages in the district are currently submerged. There is an ‘orange alert’ for the Kolhapur district on Friday.
Two NDRF teams have reached Kolhapur. One has been deployed in the city area, while the other is carrying out rescue and evacuation work in the rural parts of the district.
NDRF inspector Brijesh Raikwar said: “We have asked the residents of Prayag Chikhali and Ambewadi to evacuate immediately. If the water level rises further, we could have a situation similar to the one during the 2019 floods. Residents have now started shifting to the Sontali village on their own using private vehicles.”
The water level at the Radhanagari dam is 335 feet at present. The gates of the dam open up automatically when the level reaches 347.5 feet. If the gates open, water will be discharged into the Panchaganga river and further increase the river water level.
As per the district disaster management officials, Kolhapur district received 93mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 6pm on Thursday. Gaganbawda received the highest rainfall of 226.8mm, while Shirol received the least at 30.6mm.
The Kolhapur-Ratnagiri National Highway has been closed as the river water entered the road near Malkapur. There has been a road cave-in at the Amba ghat. The Kolhapur-Gaganbawda road has been closed at Kale and Mandukli villages. Connectivity to Konkan from Kolhapur has also reduced with several ghat sections closed. MSRTC buses plying on Kolhapur-Ratnagiri, Kolhapur-Gargoti, Kolhapur-Gaganbawda, Kolhapur-Ajara routes have been stopped.
AI employee swept away
As per reports, an Air India employee named Abhishek Patil has swept away in a stream at Nagardale in Chandgad tehsil on Thursday. Patil and his friend were trying to cross the stream. A search operation is underway.
Meanwhile, 3,000 chicks drowned after water entered the poultry of former deputy sarpanch Sanjay Utturkar at Uttur village. Two heads cattle were killed in a landslide at Dhangarwada near Savardi village in Shahuwadi tehsil.
