PMC activates 49 disaster management centres, moves 30 families in low-lying areas to safety

Pune: Thirty families from flood-prone pockets of Aundh were relocated to a nearby municipal school on Monday as Pune Municipal Corporation activated 49 relief centres across the city to support residents affected by heavy rain, waterlogging and flooding.“A large contingent of manpower and machinery has been deployed on the ground to support disaster management operations across civic areas,” Ganesh Sonune, head of the PMC’s disaster management department, said.According to civic officials, PMC launched a coordinated and multi-department response following intense rainfall across the city. Data from rain gauges connected to the National Disaster Management Aauthority-backed Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) showed rainfall ranging from 37mm in the Hadapsar-Mundhwa ward to 115.4mm in the Kothrud-Bavdhan ward.As per PMC officials, 12 Chief Health Inspectors, 50 Health Inspectors, 70 Health Supervisors, 4,000 Sanitation Workers and 50 Fumigation Workers were deployed for disaster mitigation works.The PMC disaster management cell received 34 major complaints, mainly related to clogged drainage systems, waterlogged roads, flooded basements, and fallen trees and branches. Staff from ward offices cleared debris from stormwater drains at 19 locations to facilitate the quick drainage of accumulated rainwater, a PMC statement stated.

The civic body also reported several instances of structural damage, including the collapse of a 40-foot boundary wall near Jambhulwadi Road in the Katraj-Dhankawdi ward, a landslide near Chintamani Chowk on the Katraj-Dehu Road Bypass and a partial building collapse in Bhimnagar (Mangalwar Peth). “No casualties were reported in any of these incidents,” a senior PMC official said.For disaster mitigation efforts, PMC has deployed 12 chief health inspectors, 50 health inspectors, 70 health supervisors, 4,000 sanitation workers and 50 fumigation workers across the affected areas.Meanwhile, the PMC’s 24x7 disaster management control room is coordinating with C-DAC, India Meteorological Department, traffic police and the irrigation department to monitor weather conditions and dam discharge levels.Residents needing assistance can contact PMC emergency control room at 020-25501269 or 020-25506800, or call disaster management officer at 9689931511, deputy engineer at 9689931287, or branch engineer at 9850920714.