70,000 people evacuated in W Maharashtra with army's help

Mumbai, July 30 (UNI) Over 70,000 people were evacuated by the Army from Sangli, Satara and Solapur districts in Western Maharshtra with the Krishna River flowing above the danger level and heavy rains lashing the region since the last few days.

Official sources here said 64,831 people from 53 villages in Sangli were shifted to safer places. Likewise, 4675 people from 50 villages in Satara and 500 people from Pandharpur in Solapur district were moved to higher reaches. In Kolhapur, 176 families from 22 villages were shifted.

Six persons, including three women and two children, lost their lives in rain related incidents in Sangli and Satara districts, sources said.

In Nashik and Konkan regions, heavy rains caused water-logging but the situation is reported to be under control and no untoward incidents were reported. The Godavari River was flowing below the danger mark in Nashik, officials informed.

However, the rains have now subsided and a semblence of normalcy was returning, sources added.

The incessant rains have forced authorities to release water from various dams. About 1.10 lakh cusecs water were discharged from Ujni Dam. From the Koyna Dam, 88,000 cusecs water were released while the discharge from other dams were as follows: Dhom (6000 cusecs), Kanher (9000 cusecs), Varna (22,000 cusecs), Radhanagari (9000 cusecs), Dudhganga (1200 cusecs), Khadakvasla (46,000 cusecs), Pavna (8700 cusecs), Chasakaman (2000 cusecs), Vir (56000 cusecs), Mulshi (12700 cusecs), Ghod (42200 cusecs), Bhatghar (22700 cusecs), and Varasgaon (12000 cusecs).

In Nashik district too, water was discharged from various dams: Gangapur (13700 cusecs), Darna (17000 cusecs), Palkhed (1700 cusecs), Kadva (1372 cusecs), and Nandur Madhmeshwar (79300 cusecs).

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