Mula, Mutha cross danger mark

PUNE, July 8: An alert has been sounded in localities situated on the banks of Mula and Mutha with the rivers crossing the pre-danger levels...

PUNE, July 8: An alert has been sounded in localities situated on the banks of Mula and Mutha with the rivers crossing the pre-danger levels at the Bund Garden bridge this afternoon. The water in both rivers has been constantly rising following incessant rains in the city and entire western ghats during the last 24 hours.

As a precautionary measure the police have been asked to patrol these residential localities as the water levels in these rivers are likely to rise further.

The office of Assistant Commissioner Slum Control, Pune Municipal Corporation has issued warnings in flood-prone localities in the city, most of which are in Yerawada and its adjoining areas.

The localities include Kalas, Shantinagar slums Yerawada survey number 11, Sadal baba dargah, Sangamwadi, Harris bridge, Mula Road slums, Patil Estate slums, Kondhwe Dhavde, Warje, Kamgar Putla, Uttam Nagar, Shivne, Topkhana Shivajinagar, Ambil Odha, Kashewadi, Hingne alankar police chowky, Poona hospital and Dattwadi.

Meanwhile, the civic body is taking necessary measures to deal with any flood situation in the city. A total of 43 flood rescue centres have been formed in localities which fall under the category of flood-prone zones. A team of a junior engineer, sanitary inspector and a food and drugs officer has been assigned to each centre. Homegaurds are also being deployed at these centres to deal with emergency situations, officials at the office of Assistant Commissioner slum control said.

Provisions have also been made for make-shift boarding of affected people in the adjoining municipal corporation schools in the event of a flood, the officials added.

Meanwhile, for the first time in this year8217;s monsoon, 13,770 cusecs water was released from the Khadakwasla dam into Mutha river by 4 pm on Wednesday. The discharge was around 7,000 cusecs by noon which increased subsequently.

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The irrigation department officials have not ruled out possibility of further discharge of water from the dam in the next two days if it continued to rain in this fashion in the catchment areas.