Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Sunday instructed residents in flood-prone areas to be ready for relocation after water entered houses in some localities, including Ekta Nagari at Sinhagad Road, Khilare Vasti at Karve Nagar, and Pulachiwadi at Deccan, following heavy rain in the last 24 hours. If the situation did not improve, civic officials said, around 5,000 people could be moved to safety and the required manpower along with machinery were already in place. "Water had entered some properties.
But the situation is not alarming enough to begin evacuation ," Ganesh Sonune, head of PMC's disaster management department, said. Irrigation department officials said water was discharged from Khadakwasla dam at 35,310 cusecs on Saturday night and continued till Sunday afternoon when it was brought down to 26,345 cusecs. However, at 11pm, it was increased to 31,350 cusecs.
The average rainfall figure in 24 hours for catchment areas of the four dams in the Khadakwasla circle — Temghar, Varasgaon, Panshet and Khadakwasla — stands at more than 100mm. Increased water levels led to the closure of riverside roads, giving a tough time to residents and motorists on Sunday. The problem of backwater from the stream persists, causing damage to residential properties and shops, said Asmita Adsule from Ekta Nagari.
"Our family was the first to suffer in the flooding last monthh and we lost all our belongings. We have not got any help from authorities," said Ashok Sakat, another.