Rains claim 27 lives in three western Maharashtra districts

At least 27 people have died in rain-related incidents in Solapur, Sangli and Pune districts of Western Maharashtra, officials said on Thursday.

Over 20,000 people were evacuated to safer places in se three districts. State capital Mumbai too witnessed water-logging in many areas after overnight rains on Thursday.

districts in Western Maharashtra -- Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur -- are witnessing heavy showers in last two days.

"Total 27 people have died due to rain-related incidents in Solapur, Sangli and Pune districts since Wednesday. 14 casualties are from Solapur district, nine from Sangli and four from Pune district," said an official from Pune divisional commissioner's office.

In Solapur district, six persons died in wall collapse in temple town of Pandharpur on Wednesday, while remaining deaths too occured in rain-and flood-related incidents, he said.

In Pune, four people died after getting swept away in a swollen stream at Khata in Daund tehsil, while one person was still missing. Rain-related accidents claimed nine lives in Sangli district, official ded.

"As per preliminary information, around 20,000 people have been shifted to safer places in Solapur, Sangli and Pune," he said.

"Excess water is being released from Ujani Dam into Nira and Bhima rivers, so as a precaution, around 8,400 people living along river banks in Pandharpur tehsil have been shifted to safer places," said Sachin Dhole, Sub- Divisional Officer, Solapur, earlier in day.

In Pandharpur town, some 1,650 people were shifted, he said.

ditional teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been sought for tehsil, Dhole informed.

Several low-lying areas in Pune experienced water- logging on Wednesday night after heavy showers.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune city received 96 mm rainfall on Wednesday.

Besides, Kolhapur received 56 mm rainfall in last 24 hours, an official from district disaster cell said.

Mumbai experienced heavy rains overnight along with thunderstorm and lightning, causing water-logging in some low-lying areas, officials said. But public transport services remained unaffected in city.

island city received 106.01 mm rain in 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Thursday, followed by 69.18 mm rain in eastern suburbs and 58.36 mm in western suburbs during same period, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said.

IMD has issued a 'yellow' alert for Friday, forecasting heavy rain in Mumbai and its suburbs.

Heavy rains are expected over ghat areas of Maharashtra, Konkan and south Gujarat during next two days, it said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray asked state ministration, Army, Navy and Air Force to be on high alert.

In a statement, Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that NDRF teams have been stationed in Osmanab, Solapur, Pandharpur and Baramati.

Due to winds and cloudburst, heavy rains have lashed several districts, especially Pune, Solapur, Osmanab and Latur, CMO said.