Jamshedpur residents anxious as loved ones face distress in Pune

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, July 26: As severe weather conditions continue to wreak havoc in Pune, the anxiety among residents of Jamshedpur grows for the safety and well-being of their loved ones in the affected area. Ayyaz, an employee at an MNC in Pune and a resident of the Kharadi area, has been asked by his PG owner to be ready to vacate and move to temporary camps due to the worsening weather conditions. Compounding his distress, his organization has instructed him to work from home, leaving him in a dilemma about how to manage his work and relocation amid the chaos. His parents in Jamshedpur are constantly calling, deeply concerned about his well-being.

Similarly, Anouska Kashyap, a final year student at Vidyapeeth, reported that the meteorological department has issued a red alert, leading to the closure of schools and colleges. Anouska is struggling to secure her daily supplies amid the disruption, although her college has initiated online classes to ensure the continuity of education. Vinita Kashyap, a resident of Golmuri, Jamshedpur, expressed profound concern for her daughter who is enduring the severe rains in Kothrud, Pune. The plight of these individuals underscores the far-reaching impact of the adverse weather conditions, affecting families and friends beyond the immediate vicinity of Pune.

Pune and Mumbai Battled by Torrential Rains and Floods

The state of Maharashtra, particularly the cities of Pune and Mumbai, has been battered by torrential rains, prompting authorities to declare a red alert until Friday morning. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has been actively visiting flood-affected areas, coordinating rescue and relief efforts with senior police officials.

In Pune, the situation is grim with four reported deaths—three due to electrocution and one from drowning. Severe flooding has been reported in various parts of the city, including Ekta Nagri and Vitthal Nagar, as well as in housing societies in Kalyaninagar. The Army has been called in to assist disaster response teams, and widespread power outages have been imposed to prevent water-related electrical accidents. Parts of Pune have been without electricity for over 12 hours, further exacerbating the challenges faced by residents. Schools and colleges have been closed, and the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) has been deployed, with personnel seen rowing inflatable life rafts through streets turned into rivers to evacuate people. The iconic Morya Gosavi Ganpati temple in Pimpri-Chinchwad is nearly submerged, highlighting the severity of the floods.

Mumbai has also experienced relentless rainfall, with the Santacruz observatory recording over 1,500 mm of rain this month, making it the second wettest July in the city’s history. The city saw 122.1 mm of rain between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm today alone. High waves along Juhu Beach have prompted police and local officials to issue warnings to stay away from the coastline. The Mithi River, adjacent to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport, is flowing just a meter below the danger mark, affecting flight operations. Airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet have warned passengers of delays, and Air India has offered full refunds for canceled flights.

Beyond urban flooding, a landslide in Lavasa, approximately 65 km from Pune, has trapped several individuals. Visuals show a section of the road completely washed away, with NDRF teams working to free those stuck. In Raigad district, a bridge over a stream in the Mahad Industrial Development area was washed away, although it was not used by vehicular traffic.

The Koyna Dam in Satara district, one of the largest in the state, has opened six gates by 18 inches, releasing over 11,000 cusecs of water to manage the water level and ensure structural integrity. Authorities have issued alerts for Raigad and other districts. Badlapur, less than 60 km from Mumbai, faces a flood threat due to the Ulhas River flowing above the danger level, with water already entering low-lying areas and residents being evacuated.
The relentless rain has created a dire situation across Maharashtra, impacting daily life, disrupting transportation, and causing significant distress among residents and their families both near and far.