Unseasonal rain floods roads in Baramati, Chakan; paddy hit in Ratnagiri; yellow alert for Konkan

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a major rain warning for the state. Rain is being reported from many parts of Maharashtra, and Pune district also received heavy showers.

Continuous heavy rain since the night has disrupted normal life in Baramati town and surrounding areas. The Baramati-Bhigwan road was so waterlogged that it was completely submerged. Water has collected in many parts of the town after the overnight rain. Rainwater has pooled in large quantities on the Baramati-Bhigwan road in particular, making it dangerous to drive through. Motorists are facing considerable hardship because of the submerged road.

Unseasonal rain also drenched the Chakan area. A short spell of heavy rain again exposed the poor condition of the town's roads. Many roads in Chakan looked like rivers. Water was visible everywhere on the Pune-Nashik highway and the Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur highway. Angry residents are now asking whether roads are meant for vehicles to ply or for collecting rainwater.

Ratnagiri received rain for about an hour and a half yesterday, which caused panic there. Harvested paddy lying cut in the fields was soaked in the unseasonal rain. Farmers in Ratnagiri district have suffered heavy losses.

A rain warning has been issued for the Konkan today as well. Cyclone Murasu, which has formed in the Bay of Bengal, has created conditions favourable for rain in Maharashtra. Cloudy skies and light to moderate showers are likely at some places in the Konkan. Heavy rain with lightning is forecast in parts of Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Raigad districts in the Konkan, and a yellow alert has been issued for these areas.

In Pune's Bhor taluka, heavy rain fell in the Khed Shivapur area yesterday evening, flooding the Pune-Satara highway. In the brief downpour, the highway near the Khed Shivapur flyover went under water. Motorists struggled to get through because of the water on the road.

The rain has cooled the air and given some relief to people who had been troubled by humidity for several days. Mumbai is likely to see cloudy skies today, and light rain is also possible there.