Pune (Baramati) :Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in Baramati over the past three days, leading to widespread disruption, property damage, and moments of panic. While no fatalities have been reported, residents are grappling with significant losses and the aftermath of the severe weather.
Flooding and Infrastructure Damage
The relentless downpour caused floodwaters to surge into numerous homes across Baramati, leaving many citizens facing considerable financial setbacks. A particularly critical incident occurred near Limtek, where a breach in the Neera Dawa canal caused a massive inundation of the Baramati-Indapur road. This brought traffic to a standstill for a period, creating chaotic scenes. Fortunately, authorities managed to halt the canal’s flow, leading to a recession of the floodwaters. However, the receding waters revealed extensive damage to crops and surrounding residences, which were submerged.
Rescue Operations and Evacuations
In a dramatic rescue, the Baramati Municipality’s disaster management team safely evacuated seven individuals who were trapped in a flooded house. The prompt response of officials, including Sub-divisional officer Vaibhav Navadkar, Tehsildar Ganesh Shinde, and Sub-divisional police officer Sudarshan Rathod, who rushed to the affected areas, was crucial in managing the crisis.
The canal breach, though initially causing an atmosphere of fear, fortunately resulted in no loss of life as villagers had been pre-emptively evacuated.
Widespread Impact Across the City
The heavy rains led to chaos in several other parts of Baramati. The Deshmukhnagar area on Patas Road experienced significant disruption as water from a local stream overflowed. Houses on Phaltan Road and in Tandulwadi also reported water entering properties, damaging belongings.
The intensity of the rainfall created an atmosphere of apprehension among residents. In the Jalochi area, over seventy houses were submerged due due to a sudden surge of water in a stream near the local crematorium. The Rui area, specifically from Abhimanyu Corner, also saw considerable water accumulation, with many homes impacted by the flooding.
While the immediate crisis appears to be subsiding, the focus now shifts to assessing the full extent of the damage and initiating recovery efforts for the affected communities.
