Pune: Teams of the Pune city fire brigade rescued 25 people trapped in their first and second-floor flats in Ektanagari and adjacent Nimbajnagar of Anandnagar off Sinhagad Road after water from the Mutha river entered housing societies on Sunday afternoon. Across the city, PMC shifted 387 families and 1,481 citizens from low-lying areas. Residents of Dwarka Apartments, Anand Park, Kudale Patil Garden, Jal Vihar, Jal Pujan, and others were rescued, including some elderly persons, who could not walk.
Officials also rescued a dog and cat from the two flats. Pune fire brigade chief Devendra Potphode said, “Our teams were monitoring the water level situations in Ektanagari, Nimbajnagar, Narayan Peth, Sadashiv Peth, Deccan, and Yerawada since Saturday night after dam discharge into Mutha and Mula rivers rose.” The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and fire brigade officials shifted over 15 people to temporary shelters after river water entered societies in Shantinagar of Yerawada on Sunday morning.
Water flooded over 40 hutments in Shantinagar and also entered parking areas of some buildings, following which a rescue operation was carried out. “Our teams repeatedly made announcements requesting residents to vacate, but few responded,” said Potphode, adding, “No untoward incident has been reported so far.” PMC commissioner Rajendra Bhosale, who had gone to check on rescue operations at Sinhagad Road, faced difficulties leaving the building amid flooding.
The civic chief went to Sai Siddharth society around 1pm with a team of officials. He interacted with residents for around 45 minutes. By the time the team came downstairs, water had accumulated at the main gate and their vehicle could not enter.
The officials had to jump over the compound wall to exit. Army steps in as well The Indian Army mobilized a flood relief column to assist the affected residents of Ektanagari after the Pune district collector requisitioned the Indian Army Column at 9.15am on Sunday.
An Army relief column, comprising approximately 100 personnel, included Infantry Troops from the Maratha Light Infantry, an Engineer Task Force from the Bombay Engineers Group (BEG), and a medical team from the Military Hospital Khadki was deployed, equipped with rescue boats, quadcopters, and other essential rescue equipment. In coordination with the civic administration, the Indian Army commenced the evacuation of all buildings and apartments in inundated areas, relocating residents to safer locations. As part of ongoing efforts, a few stranded people were rescued from Dwarka apartments.
Rescue efforts in twin cities The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has shifted over 1,000 residents from low-lying areas to temporary shelter homes due to rising water levels in Pavana and Mula rivers. Civic officials said water from both these rivers gushed into some houses on Sunday morning. As a result, some people were evacuated, while many were relocated as a precautionary measure.
Civic chief Shekhar Singh visited flood-prone areas and said, “We have relocated people from low-lying areas such as Mulanagar, Bopkhel, areas of Sangvi, Phugewadi, Pimpri Camp, and Ravet to shelter homes. We had already made announcements urging people to shift to safer places on Saturday evening as discharge from dams had started increasing.” He added that an NDRF team has been kept on standby in Chinchwad.
“Besides, the civic body has also requested army officials at BEG and Aundh Military Station to remain on standby for help in areas like Sangvi, Dapodi, and Kasarwadi,” Singh said. Waterlogging across city Heavy water logging was reported from several areas in Pune, including some societies in Kalyaninagar that were badly affected by rains on July 25, too. The Raheja Woods Society on West Avenue Road had its entrance under water, making it difficult for members to enter the building.
Avinash Purohit, a resident of the area, said, “We have been continuously following up with PMC about some chronic spots that need immediate repairs, but in vain, leading to this situation.” No power for residents Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) disconnected power supply of about 100 consumers in Pulachi Wadi and Premnagar since Saturday night due to water discharge from Khadakwasla on Aug 3 and the increase in the water level in the riverbed near Deccan. MSEDCL said similar efforts were taken for other low-lying areas on Sunday.
Landslide at Tikona A landslide was reported on the Tikona fort near Kamshet around 50km from Pune city on Sunday morning. Entry to the fort has been banned. Eatery owners at the foothills were told to vacate the spot.
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