Nashik continues to reel under heavy downpour

Incessant rains continued to lash Nashik and other parts of the district for the third day today, forcing the Maharashtra irrigation department to release water from two key dams into rivers.

The department released 9,302 cusec of water from the Gangapur dam into the Godavari river today. Similarly, 10,600 cusec of water was released from the Darna dam into the Darna river, official sources said.

The water level in the Godavari has increased, forcing people having their shops near the river bank to shift them to safer places.

Both Gangapur and Darna dams were filled up to 79 per cent of their storage capacity due to heavy downpour in their catchment areas.

People living near the banks of the Godavari and Darna rivers have been asked to be ready to shift to safer places if the rains continue and water level rises, the sources said.