Pune Battles Severe Floods as Katraj Lake Overflows, Several Roads Shut | WATCH

Pune: Pune is reeling from severe flooding due to a recent spell of intense rainfall. Katraj Lake, a crucial water reservoir in the region, has overflowed after reaching full capacity, disrupting normal life. The relentless rain, particularly affecting Katraj Ghat and nearby hilly areas, has caused significant runoff from local streams and rivulets, aggravating the flooding across the city. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a 'red alert' for Pune district and asked people to take precautions. Schools and colleges in most parts of the district have declared a holiday in view of the heavy rainfall warning, officials said. Pune city and other parts of the district, including Velha, Mulshi, Bhor talukas and the catchments areas of several dams, including Khadakwasla, have been witnessing incessant rains since Wednesday night.    

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Pune FLoods: 4 Dead In Rain-Related Incidents

Officials have confirmed four persons died in rain-related incidents on Thursday, while several houses and residential societies in low-lying areas in the city were inundated, following which people are being evacuated. Three men died of electrocution in Deccan area of the city while trying to move their handcart, on which they used to sell egg dishes, after it got submerged due to heavy rains, while one person died and another one sustained injuries in a landslide in Tahmini ghat section in Mulshi tehsil, district officials said.

"One person died while another sustained injuries after a landslide on a small eatery in Tahmini ghat in Mulshi tehsil," inspector Manoj Yadav of Paud police station said.

Pune Floods: Ajit Pawar Takes Stock of the Situation

During his tour of the district, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said as a precautionary measure, Army teams have been deployed at Ekta Nagar in Sinhagad Road, while NDRF personnel are also in the area.

He also said rescue operations are underway at the site of a landslide in Lavasa in which some bungalows have been affected and three persons are feared trapped. In the city, housing societies in the low-lying areas, such as Sinhagad Road, Bavdhan, Baner and Deccan Gymkhana, witnessed flooding and inundation and efforts have been launched by the fire brigade and disaster management cell of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to evacuate the stranded people, the officials said.

"Currently there is no flooding in Sinhagad Road and all those who needed to be shifted to safety have been moved. Arrangements have been made for meals, clothes and other relief materials for those who have been evacuated," Pawar said. Queried about residents of Sinhagad Road complaining about not being informed about water being released from Khadakwasla Dam, he said the process started early Thursday morning.

The water release and heavy rains aggravated the situation but deployment of relief mechanisms was done in advance and people were taken to safety, Pawar asserted.