A canal wall on the Mutha river that cuts across Pune unexpectedly breached leading to massive flooding in parts of Maharashtra's cultural and IT capital on Thursday.
The river carries the water from the Khadakwasla dam, which is the main source for Pune and its suburban areas, considered Oxford of the East.
The Khadakwasla dam is close to the National Defence Academy (NDA), Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), College of Military Engineering (CME) and Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS).
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been put on alert. "There is a breach in the Mutha right bank canal at the Dandekar Pool at Sinhgad Road," officials of the PMC said.
After the flooding, the flow through the canal has been stopped by the Water Resources (Irrigation) department.
"We have mobilised all resources and will ensure that the water recedes," Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak said.
“My team is present at the location and repairs are set to being ASAP,” Pune MP Anil Shirole tweeted.
The maximum flooding was noticed near the Dandekar bridge near Parvati Hill and Sinhgad Road.
The Janata colony near Dandekar bridge was the worst affected. Around 50 houses in the area were damaged due to the sudden rise in water level.
The breach occurred around 11 am and the rising water - from knee level to waist level - caught everyone by surprise.
Rescued
Prabhakar Marne, owner of a kirana shop in the locality, was rescued using ropes by civic staff.
Sunil Annadate, a senior technocrat with the state government who is on medical leave, was stranded in the traffic as the canal breached.
"Though the water supply in the canal from Khadakwasla dam was immediately stopped, the water logging forced some roads to be closed, causing heavy traffic snarls," he said.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks