Heavy rains claim three lives in Sangli

SANGLI/AHMEDNAGAR/SATARA: Heavy rains continued to cause havoc in Sangli, Satara and Ahmednagar districts and as many as three people lost their lives due to the resultant floods in Sangli since Monday. On Tuesday, the intensity of the rains lessened to some extent. Heavy damages to crops and houses were reported and panchnamas were being conducted to assess the damage.
In Sangli, Rama Basappa Nulke (32) was swept away in the rising waters near the Tonewadi bund on Monday, while Saraswati Mathpati (9) was swept away in a nullah in Muchandi village.Sharnappa Kabure drowned in an overflowing percolation tank.
Sangli collector Shyam Vardhane said nearly 5,000 houses had been damaged, while 15 villages were totally cut off. At least eight villages have been inundated with flood waters from the Bor river and relief and rescue work was on.
Vardhane and superintendent of police Krishnaprakash were touring the flood-affected areas and panchnamas were being conducted. "A fleet of mechanised boats and a number of life jackets are being kept ready for rescue and relief operations," Vardhane said.
The drought-prone areas of the district have been witnessing heavy rains in the last four days. "In Atpadi taluka, 594 mm rainfall was recorded as against the annual average of 342 mm. Jat taluka recorded 620 mm rainfall as against annual average of 349 mm, while Kavthemahankal registered 416 mm rainfall as against 301 mm annual average figures," he said. In Atpadi taluka, all the seven lakes that supply water to the taluka were overflowing, besides the bunds, KT weirs, wells and farm ponds.
In Ahmednagar district, extensive damage to sugarcane, soybean and cotton crops has been reported. State education minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil told TOI that sugarcane crop on about 250 acres of land had been damaged and the per acre yield was expected to go down by 25 tonnes. Damages to crops like tur dal, soybean, cotton and fodder may result in a loss of several crores of rupees. Cotton crop has been damaged in Shevgaon and Pathardi areas.
Heavy rains continued to lash Satara on Tuesday, 866 houses were damaged, resulting in a loss of Rs 41 lakh. District collector Vikas Deshmukh toured the affected areas, including Phaltan, and announced financial help of Rs 1,000 per person. According to the district administration, as many as 839 families have been displaced, with maximum damage being reported from Phaltan where 833 houses were damaged. Twenty-eight houses have been completely destroyed. As many as eight houses in Maan and 20 in Karad have been damaged, while farm animals, including 11 goats and two cows, were swept away in the floods. The dams in the region Koyna, Tarali, Uttarmand, Morna-Gureghar have been filled to capacity.