MUMBAI: Heavy rain continued to lash most parts of the state on Wednesday, leading to several rain-related mishaps and disruptions. At least eight deaths were reported in 24 hours, taking the toll this monsoon to over 90.
Across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, people living in low-lying areas were evacuated after the water level in some of the rivers crossed the danger mark. The Kalyan creek and the Ulhas river rose above the danger level. Flood water entered 200 houses in Kalyan and cattle sheds with 3,000 buffaloes were affected.
People were asked to shift out of low-lying areas in Badlapur. The Vaitarna and Pinjal in Palghar district were near the danger mark and villagers there were alerted. Many bridges in the district were shut.
Across the state, close to 8,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas when water levels crossed the danger mark.
While two people died and 11 were injured in a landslide in Vasai, a death was reported in a structure collapse in Raigad, a 45-year-old man was swept away in a river in Nanded, and four bodies were recovered a day after a car with six people was swept away in the flood in Sawner taluka of Nagpur district.
The India Meteorology Department forecast heavy rainfall in Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Nashik, Pune and Kolhapur districts for three days. Villages in several districts were cut off by the rising waters.
Chief minister Eknath Shinde said the administration was monitoring the situation. Sixteen rescue teams were stationed in severely affected districts.
“Collectors have been asked to ensure relief operations are carried out smoothly. They have also been directed to ensure early evacuation to reduce the risk to life and property,” deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
A landslide closed the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway near Manor in the morning as boulders, wet soil and uprooted trees blocked the entire road. It took nine hours to open a lane for traffic.
Traffic on the Kalyan-Ahmednagar highway was halted when the Murbadi river started overflowing near Kishor village.
In Chandrapur district, at least 35 passengers had a close shave when the bus ferrying them got stranded in the middle of a swollen nullah before their rescue by the police.
Nanded district, which has received unprecedented rain this season, saw an average of 123mm of rainfall over a 24-hour period ending 1.30pm. In Pune, water released from the Khadakwasla dam was increased to 13,138 cusecs.
Incessant rain in Kolhapur district raised fears of the Panchganga reaching its warning level on Thursday.
The storage level in the Jayakwadi major irrigation project in Aurangabad district approached the halfway mark following heavy inflows from upstream areas.
In Gadchiroli, the Godavari, Kaleshwaram and Indravati were flowing above the danger level.
