Heavy rain lashes western Maharashtra, Konkan

Water level in Koyana Dam reaches capacity

Rain continued to lash western Maharashtra and Konkan areas on Saturday, and several low lying areas were issued a flood alert.

In all, 1,28,000 cusecs of water was released from Satara's Koyana Dam. All the six doors of the dam were opened, officials said. Rain was heavier on Saturday, with the Koyana region receiving 155mm. On Friday, 53,000 cusecs of water was released.

Warning issued

“The dam is now full. We have issued warnings to people living on river banks,” P.P. Mane, Sangli division Sectional Engineer told The Hindu .

Officials said every movement from the Koyana Dam was being communicated to the officials of the Almatti Dam, which lay in Karnataka's Bijapur district.

In Pune too, rains continued to create havoc, with the ground floor of housing societies along the river banks getting flooded.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders charged the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance with mishandling the situation. “The Irrigation Department that is headed by the NCP is full of goons who give contracts for constructing reservoirs to their cronies,” BJP city spokesperson Vikas Mathkari stated.