12 dead, 14 injured in two wall collapse incidents in Pune

Pune, June 23 (UNI) Twelve people were killed and 14 others injured in two incidents of wall collapse today as heavy rains, accompanied by squally winds, lashed the city and adjoining areas since last night.

Police said in the first incident at Baner, Eight persons were killed and eight others injured when a wall collapsed at Jai Bhavani Mata Mandir in Baner area at 0130 hrs, while in the second incident of wall collapse at 0345 hrs at Paud Road, four persons were killed and six others injured.

Joint Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation, Suresh Karamkar who is incharge of flood control cell, told UNI that so far there has been no flooding. "It is just the beginning of the monsoon".

The fire brigade received around 45 calls about water entering residential areas.

Waterlogging was reported from different parts of the city, throwing traffic out of gear. Highway Police, however, informed that traffic flow has been smooth on National Highway-4 and the Express Highway.

IMD has forecast frequent spells of rain with one or two heavy spells. 127mm rainfall was recorded this morning.

In neighbouring Mumbai, it was raining heavily since this evening, with traffic moving at a snail's pace.

Kolhapur district has also been experiencing heavy rains since last night, disrupting normal life and vehicular movement.

UNI