4 dead as rain batters Pune; Army teams deployed

Pune, July 25

Heavy rain wreaked havoc in Maharashtra’s Pune, where at least four persons died in rain-related incidents on Thursday, while several houses and residential societies in low-lying areas in the city were inundated, following which people are being evacuated, officials said.

21 flights cancelled, diverted in Mumbai

n As many as 11 flights were cancelled and 10 diverted to nearby airports from Mumbai on Thursday as heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai

During his tour of the district, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said as a precautionary measure, Army teams have been deployed at Ekta Nagar in Sinhagad Road, while NDRF personnel are also in the area.

He also said rescue operations are underway at the site of a landslide in Lavasa in which some bungalows have been affected and three persons are feared trapped.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘red alert’ for Pune district and asked people to take precautions. Schools and colleges in most parts of the district have declared a holiday in view of the heavy rainfall warning, officials said.

Four persons lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Pune, officials said. While three men died of electrocution in Deccan area of the city while trying to move their handcart after it got submerged due to heavy rains, one person died and another one sustained injuries in a landslide in Tahmini ghat section in Mulshi tehsil, district officials said.

Pune city and other parts of the district, including Velha, Mulshi, Bhor talukas and the catchments areas of several dams, including Khadakwasla, have been witnessing incessant rains since Wednesday night.