Nashik city witnesses widespread waterlogging, traffic disruptions

Nashik: Heavy rainfall on Wednesday triggered widespread waterlogging across Nashik city, disrupting vehicular movement and causing roads to cave in at several locations, leading to severe inconvenience for the commuters and residents.Nashik city received 142.3 mm of rainfall between 8.30am on Tuesday and 5.30pm on Wednesday. The intense rainfall resulted in water accumulation at over 250 locations across the city, exposing weaknesses in the stormwater drainage network and affecting normal traffic movement.According to the data provided by the authorities, around 20 rain-gauge circles in Nashik district received more than 65 mm rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8.30am on Wednesday.

Trimbakeshwar town recorded the highest rainfall at 324mm, followed by Welunje (275 mm) and Thanpada (244 mm).The district received an average 48 mm of rainfall during the period. Trimbakeshwar taluka recorded 245.7 mm rainfall, followed by Nashik taluka (73.3 mm), Peth (60.3 mm), Igatpuri (53 mm) and Kalwan (52.7 mm).The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Nashik on Thursday, followed by light to moderate rain over the next three days.

The heavy downpour led to flooding of roads and low lying areas across the city. A stretch of the Nashik-Trimbak Road was temporarily closed after being inundated, while authorities continued to regulate traffic on the opposite carriageway, which remains affected by the ongoing Kumbh Mela road-development works. The Satpur–Maule Mala road was also closed after the Nandini river overflowed during the morning hours.Meanwhile, a portion of the road near Pimpalgaon Bahula caved in due to heavy rainfall. Similar incidents were reported on stretches between Anandvalli and Someshwar on Gangapur Road, where road surfaces were damaged after continuous showers.The NMC declared holiday for schools and colleges and advised private establishments to allow employees to work from home in view of the prevailing weather conditions. Significant water accumulation was reported at Bodhale Nagar on the Nashik-Pune Road, Trimbak Road, near Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, ABB Circle and several other key junctions across the city.Disaster management minister Girish Mahajan, municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri, mayor Himgauri Adke-Aher and other senior officials visited waterlogged areas and damaged road stretches to assess the situation.“The administration is closely monitoring all vulnerable locations across the city in view of the heavy rainfall over the past few days. Instructions have been issued to take immediate remedial measures wherever waterlogging is reported or impediments to stormwater drainage are identified,” Khatri said.