Maharashtra rains: School wall collapses in Bhilar village

KOLHAPUR: The wall of the Zilla Parishad Primary School in Bhilar village near Mahabaleshwar, Satara district, collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday due to incessant rains over the past few days.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Mahabaleshwar recorded 308 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, while Navaja in the Koyna catchment reported 387 mm of rainfall until Wednesday at 8.30 am.In Malharpeth village, Panhala tehsil, Kolhapur district, a ground-plus-one-floor house collapsed due to heavy rainfall, leaving five people injured after getting trapped in the debris. All the injured were hospitalised at CPR Hospital, Kolhapur.

Disaster management officials said 68 houses in the district partially collapsed due to the rainfall, causing losses worth Rs 2.4 crore.The incessant rains have also inundated eight state highways, 22 major district roads, and 78 barrages in Kolhapur district, disconnecting several villages. Officials warned that daily milk collection for dairies and vegetable supply may be affected. The Panchaganga river is flowing one foot above its warning level and nearing its danger mark of 43 feet.

Evacuations have begun in Sutarwada and other flood-prone areas by the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC).In Kolhapur city, the road between Gangawesh and Shivaji Bridge has been closed to vehicles after the Panchaganga river overflowed onto the road.State health minister and Kolhapur guardian minister Prakash Abitkar said, “Along with rainfall, the release of water from Almatti Dam and Hippargi Dam is also significantly impacting the flood situation in Kolhapur and Sangli districts.

Coordination is being done between the Maharashtra and Karnataka governments. Citizens should not panic even if the rainfall increases and must follow administration instructions.

People are urged to stay safe and avoid driving on inundated roads.”Meanwhile, due to large discharge from Koyna Dam (95,300 cusecs), water levels in the Koyna and Krishna rivers are rapidly rising. The Krishna river is expected to cross its warning level at Irwin Bridge in Sangli city by Wednesday evening, prompting evacuation of residents in flood-prone areas of Sangli district.