Mumbai/Thane/Palghar, Jul 23 (PTI) One person was killed, while nearly 900 people were rescued in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on Thursday after heavy overnight rains which also affected power supply, leaving some two lakh people without electricity, officials said.
Torrential downpours in Kalyan taluka of adjoining Thane district submerged key bridges, severely impacting traffic and connectivity in the region. Train operations on the Western Railway (WR) between Maharashtra’s Dahanu Road and Valsad in Gujarat were disrupted after rivers touched the danger mark at key railway bridges, they said.
However, the coastal Palghar district bore the maximum brunt of the heavy rainfall in parts of the state.
A massive relief and rescue operation was launched in Palghar district after heavy rains cut off several villages in Dahanu and Talasari talukas, inundating low-lying areas and leading to power outages.
Emergency response teams have so far rescued 891 people or 218 families from flood-affected areas while some two lakh people are living without electricity, officials said.
Collector Dr Indu Rani Jakhar said the district has been receiving torrential rainfall since Wednesday night, with Dahanu and Talasari bearing the brunt.
All educational institutions in the district have been ordered to remain closed on Thursday, she said.
“National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in Talasari and Dahanu to carry out rescue operations,” she said, adding an emergency rescue team from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) and a local rescue unit at Bharad (Charoti) have also been helping stranded residents.
A person was found dead in a nullah in the district, Collector Jakhar said, adding the identity of the deceased was yet to be established.
Water is being discharged from Kurje and Dhamani dams as they are filled to capacity.
“All villages situated along the canal banks have been put on high alert, and the local administration is maintaining continuous vigil,” the Collector stated, urging people to refrain from non-essential travel and stay away from submerged roads, bridges, and overflowing water bodies.
The flooding has also caused severe damage to the power infrastructure, leaving around two lakh people without electricity.
Ajit Igatpurikar, Deputy Chief PRO (Kalyan Region) for Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL), stated in a release that floodwaters inundated 17 electrical substations, forcing authorities to shut down 106 feeders as a safety precaution.
In Dolarpada and Bordi, substations were completely submerged. An operator and a security guard stranded at the Dolarpada substation overnight were rescued by local villagers on Thursday morning.
“MSEDCL is working closely with the NDRF, using rescue boats in flooded areas of Talasari and Dahanu to inspect submerged electrical installations,” the release noted. A total of 16 high-tension and 13 low-tension power poles have been uprooted across the district.
Chandramani Mishra, Chief Engineer for MSEDCL Kalyan Zone, assured that restoration work is being executed on a war footing.
The India Meteorological Department has sounded a “red alert” for Palghar district, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall at a few places and gusty winds with speeds of 60-70 kmph.
Downpour also caused damage in Badlapur and Wangani in neighbouring Thane district, uprooting 27 power poles and disrupting power supply to nearly 27,000 consumers since Wednesday evening, officials said.
Kalyan Tehsildar Vikas Garudkar said the Runde bridge on the Titwala-Falegaon road went completely underwater around 8 am due to rising water levels in the Kalu river.
“As a precautionary measure to ensure public safety, the Runde bridge has been completely closed to all vehicular traffic,” Garudkar stated.
The Walkas-Vehare bridge in the Kalyan taluka has also been rendered impassable and shut to traffic for the past five hours following heavy rains, the official added.
“For residents travelling to and from Runde and Falegaon villages, the alternative Danbav via Khadavli road route is open and fully operational,” Garudkar said.
Local authorities have advised citizens to avoid venturing into waterlogged areas and strictly adhere to official travel advisories.
Across Thane district, several trees have fallen, damaging vehicles and houses, following heavy rains, officials said.
No casualties were reported in any of the incidents, they said.
Thane city received 99.32 mm of rain during the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Thursday. This season’s rainfall so far stands at 1,893.78 mm, compared to 1,270.48 mm last year, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the regional disaster management cell of the Thane civic body.
Train operations on the WR between Dahanu Road in Palghar districgt and Valsad in neighbouring Gujarat were disrupted after rivers touched the danger mark at key railway bridges amid heavy rainfall, officials said.
According to a release shared by the WR at 8.35 am, train services are being regulated as a precautionary measure to ensure complete passenger safety.
It said that services on bridge number 203 between Umargam Road and Gholvad were suspended at 4.43 am after rising river water levels touched the danger mark. The services on both Up and Down lines were restored at 6.50 am, WR said.
Train movements have been temporarily suspended on bridge no. 230 in Sanjan Yard since 6.45 am after floodwaters crossed the danger mark at the site. For the same reason, services through bridge no. 284 between Udvada and Vapi were halted at around 7.05 am, it said.
The Godavari and other rivers in Nashik district are in spate due to the incessant rains over the last two days, officials said on Thursday.
The Godavari river may cross the danger mark soon, they said.
Water was discharged from the Gangapur dam, adding to the rise in the water level in the river. Some other rivers in the district including Darna, Girna and Kadva too were swollen.
Nashik city received 100.6 mm rainfall in 24 hours up to 8.30 am on Thursday and the weather department has issued an orange alert forecasting heavy rains in isolated places, officials said. PTI COR NR KRK RSY
