21 killed as heavy rains pound Maharashtra, more in store

AT least 21 persons were killed and nine missing in various rain-related incidents in Pune, Jalgaon and Nashik since late Wednesday, officials said here on Thursday. Of the total fatalities, 14 deaths took place in Pune district, six in Jalgaon and one in Nashik in the past 24 hours of rains, while the India Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rains for Friday. According to the State and District Disaster Management authorities, at least five persons were washed away in flood waters in the Khed-Shivapur area on Pune-Bengaluru Highway.

Three bodies were recovered from a well in the downstream region early on Thursday and a hunt is on for the others. A building compound wall crashed in Arnyshwar Complex, killing six more people, while some others were feared trapped under the debris. While two bodies have been recovered, search is on for the remaining persons. Caught in a thunderstorm, six people were killed as they took refuge under a tree in Jalgaon, a Maharashtra Disaster Control Authority official told IANS. Two persons were found dead in cars that were washed away in the flood waters in Kondwa and Saswad areas.

An auto-rickshaw driver was killed due to electrocution in a flooded area of a village on the outskirts of Nashik on Thursday, police said. As flood waters rose, more than 15,000 people were evacuated from Baramati tehsil, and others from different areas like Sinhgad, Dhanakwadi, Balajinagar, Ambegaon, Sahakar Nagar, Parvati Nagar, Kolhewadi and Kirkatwadi.

They have been housed in temporary camps set up in these areas. In many areas, panicked residents took refuge on upper floors or terrace as flood waters gushed into ground floor residences. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are deployed each in Baramati and Pune, while a fifth team was on its way to Baramati and that the flood situation is being closely monitored. He also spoke with Baramati legislator and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and promised full help to the flood-affected. State Congress President Balasaheb Thorat said a very grim situation has arisen due to Pune floods and resulted in loss of lives.