Rains lash Nashik city, triggering waterlogging and traffic snarls

Nashik: The city and several parts of the district received moderate to heavy rain on Friday, leading to waterlogging and traffic congestion on key roads.Nashik city recorded around 18 mm of rainfall between 8.30am and 8.30pm on Friday.

Vehicular movement remained slow on several major roads, particularly on those where traffic has been diverted due to ongoing Simhastha Kumbh Mela infrastructure works.The impact of the rain was also visible at the Nimani bus stand in Panchavati area, where rainwater was accumulated in large potholes. Residents complained that persistent waterlogging and damaged road surfaces have made commuting difficult during the day.Officials from the Nashik Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) fire brigade department said incidents of tree felling were reported from two locations in the Satpur division. The department also responded to complaints regarding muddy roads near Dwarka Circle and Wadalagaoan.“A water tanker was immediately deployed to clean the affected stretches and prevent skidding accidents,” a fire brigade official said.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Nashik district on Saturday, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations.

An orange alert has been issued for Sunday, while a yellow alert remains in place for Monday and Tuesday.However, the showers brought some relief to residents facing water scarcity. Civic officials said continued rainfall in dam catchment areas could help improve the water situation in the coming weeks.“NMC is expecting good rainfall in the catchment areas of the dams. If reservoir levels improve, it will help ease the drinking water shortage faced by the city,” an official said.Meanwhile, municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri carried out a field inspection in the Panchavati division under Phase II of the Nashik Municipal Corporation’s Monsoon Task Force initiative.Khatri visited Dindori Road, Peth Road and the Regional Transport Office (RTO) area in wards 5 and 6 to assess monsoon preparedness and ongoing civic works. She inspected water pipeline projects, road-widening works, sewer manholes, stormwater drains and underground drainage channels to ensure there were no obstructions that could worsen waterlogging during intense rainfall.The commissioner also interacted with local residents and senior citizens regarding recurring water accumulation issues and directed officials to take prompt corrective measures.“The municipal administration is actively monitoring the situation on the ground. Ensuring efficient drainage and addressing potential monsoon-related problems before they escalate remains our top priority,” Khatri said.Authorities have appealed to citizens to remain cautious during periods of heavy rainfall and avoid venturing into waterlogged areas unless necessary. With the IMD forecasting more intense rain over the weekend, civic agencies remain on alert to respond to any emergencies.