Torrential rain lashes Baramati and Indapur, brings relief to farms but threatens grape, pomegranate orchards

Heavy rain fell from early Monday in the Baramati and Indapur areas of Pune district. Baramati city, the rain-shadow (barani) belt and most parts of Indapur taluka saw torrential rain from morning.

Baramati city had recorded 158 mm of rain by 7 am. The downpour continued until 10.15 am, so the total is believed to have crossed 170 mm. This figure is still only an estimate.

The rain began in the city at around 4.30 am. It was so intense from the start that water collected on many roads. Water flowed out of low-lying areas and everyday life was affected in some places. Residents of Baramati saw a cloudburst-like downpour for the first time in many days.

It was not only the city. Malegaon, Katewadi, Pimpli-Limtek and Songaon also received good rain. Water also poured down in Morgaon and Jalgaon K.P. in the rain-shadow belt, and in Bhavaninagar, Sansar, Lasurne and nearby villages in Indapur taluka.

Rain had been absent for many days, and water scarcity had been deepening in the Baramati area. Conditions in the rain-shadow belt had turned serious, while even the irrigated belt had begun to feel the shortage. In many places the water level in wells and borewells had dropped. Farmers had been looking to the sky for the return of the rains, but the rain did not come as expected even during the Hasta nakshatra, which added to their worry.

A few days ago, the release of water from the Nira Left Bank Canal had stopped. This had raised fears that the shortage would worsen. In this situation, the heavy rain from early Monday has raised hope for both farming and drinking water.

Sugarcane growers and farmers who grow fodder crops in Baramati and Indapur talukas have got major relief from the rain. Crops that were in trouble for want of water are expected to benefit.

On the other hand, grape and pomegranate orchards are feared to have been damaged by the torrential rain, raising concern among fruit growers. How much damage the crops suffer will depend on the intensity of the rain and the weather that follows. While farming hit by water shortage hopes for new life, the fear of damage to fruit orchards remains.