Boy feared drowned in Panchaganga; rains continue in Kolhapur

A 16-year-old boy was today feared drowned in the swollen Panchaganga river in Kolhapur district where a flood alert has been sounded, officials said.
The boy, identified as Sachin Agarkar, is a resident of Vadanage village and had gone to the river bank near here along with four other youngsters, they said.
Three of them stepped into the flooded river and started drowning. Two of them were rescued by villagers, while the third one was swept away, officials in District Information Office said.
Personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), who have been deployed in the district, and locals have launched a search for the boy.

The Panchaganga river is flowing nearly two feet above the danger mark in the city.
A 40-member team of NDRF has been stationed in Kolhapur district, which has been receiving heavy rainfall for the last three days, to help the administration deal with any eventuality.

The intensity of showers in the city was low today as compared to the last two days. About 84 bridges on various nullahs in the district were under flood waters and around 15 major roads closed, thus disrupting vehicular movement.
The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation has shifted around 253 people from Sutar Mala and Kumbhar Galli due to flooding in the areas.

As per information from government officials, this South-West Maharashtra district has received 9,260.12 mm of rainfall since June 1.
Meanwhile, bountiful rainfall in the last few days has eased water woes in Nashik in north Maharashtra.
The Gangapur dam, the main source of drinking water for Nashik city, has filled up to 62 per cent of its capacity. Water level in two other medium dams -- Kashyapi and Gautami Godavar -- has increased to 29 and 24 per cent, respectively, of their capacity, according to Collector office sources.
Water level in 20 other reservoirs in the district has also gone up, they said.

Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) had imposed one day water cut (every Thursday) since October last year. However, due to plentiful rainfall this month and increase in water level in dams and reservoirs, the civic body has decided to withdraw the cut from tomorrow, Mayor Ashok Murtadak said.
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Meanwhile, a flood alert has been sounded in low-lying areas and villages along the banks of the Irai river in Chandrapur, the district administration said in a release.
Five gates of Irai Dam, where water had reached above 90 per cent of its capacity, have been opened to release water into the river, it said.

After days of heavy downpour, rains have subsided since yesterday.
Following abundant rainfall, six out of the 11 irrigation projects in the district are filled to their storage capacity, the release added.