Baramati gets 158 mm of rain in one night; roads flooded, municipal schools shut

Many parts of the state continue to face drought-like conditions, but unseasonal rain has arrived heavily in Pune district. Heavy rain is falling in Pune city, Baramati, Indapur and some other parts of the district. People who had waited for days for rain have found relief, but the sudden downpour has also disrupted daily life.

Baramati was the worst affected. A record amount of rain was recorded there within a few hours. A month's worth of rain fell in a single night, and the town's roads looked like rivers.

The rain began before dawn on November 2 and stayed heavy for the next few hours. In just two and a half to three hours of intense rain, many parts of the town were submerged. By 7 am, Baramati had recorded a full 158 mm of rain. With so much rain in so short a time, water collected on the roads. Water also filled the Bhigwan Road heavily, affecting traffic. Motorists and residents faced considerable difficulty because of the sudden rain.

Given the intensity of the rain and the situation it created, a holiday has been declared for Baramati Municipal Council schools. Children have been relieved. At the same time, people in Baramati are also pleased with the heavy rain that fell in one night. In areas facing drought, the rain is being seen as welcome news.

In Pune city, too, unseasonal rain has been intensifying since yesterday. Heavy showers were falling in many parts of the city this morning as well. People who left home for work faced considerable trouble. Water has collected at some places on the Pune-Nashik highway, making the traffic problem serious. Motorists are finding it hard to make their way through the water.

Meanwhile, important news has also come from the Nira valley in Bhor taluka of Pune district. Water has begun to be released into the Nira river from the Nira Deoghar dam at 750 cusecs. Rain had been absent for the past three months, causing heavy damage to kharif crops from lack of water. Farmers had been demanding continuously that water be released from the dam to save the standing crops.