A dangerous flood situation emerged once again in Nashik on Saturday, with nearly all rivers flowing in full spate due to heavy rains since Friday night and one drowning incident reported.
The district has received 11,623.8mm of rainfall this season till Saturday.
Water was released into the rivers from various reservoirs due to heavy rains in the catchment areas. Other than water from reservoirs, water flowing directly from all areas into the rivers caused heavy floods.
One Manoj Ramdas Ghuge entered a ditch in Panhalsate of Yeola tehsil and drowned.
He had visited the tehsil to attend his grandfather’s funeral.
Copious amount of water was being released, especially 50,000 cusecs from Nandur Madhmeshwar reservoir, which flows to Jayakwadi in Aurangabad.
Jayakwadi reservoir was reported 32.69 per cent full with 51.12tmc.
Readers will recall that the Godavari river saw heavy floods termed ‘mahapur’ on August 2. The busy Saraf bazaar area was inundated and water reached over the plinth level of Sarkarwada, the Peshwa’s palace in Old Nashik.
The floods were unprecedented as water failed to percolate through the closed aquifers due to encroachment of the river.
Environmentalist Rajesh Pandit, who had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the high court on these issues, said, “The Godavari, after being blocked at many places, was making her own path and warning humans not to dare enter her territory. Revised markings of the flood plain will have to be made to decide futureplanning of the territory,” he said.
Heavy rains continued in Trimbakeshwar and the western parts of the district since Friday. A water carpet spread over this holy town, affecting pilgrims and citizens’ everyday life.
Meanwhile, theNashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) removed about 465.21mt of garbage through 195 vehicle trips and sprayed disinfectant powder.
Standing committee chairman of the civic body Salim Shaikh warned the health department that cases would be filed against them if any epidemics were reported.
