Pune: Intense monsoon activity continued across the Sahyadris on Thursday, with several stations recording over 100mm of rainfall in 24 hours, triggering road cave-ins in Pune’s Rajgad (Velha) taluka, forcing authorities to shut two major district roads. A building also collapsed in Nashik district, leaving three people injured.The Rajgad (Velha)-Kelad Road, popularly known as the Madheghat route, was closed after a road cave-in caused by land subsidence. District collector Jitendra Dudi ordered the closure till further notice, citing public safety concerns. Commuters heading towards Pune have been advised to use the Kelad-Nigade Khurd-Kumbale-Chandvane-Bhutonde-Pal Budruk-Vajeghar-Kharov-Rajgad (Velha)-Pune route.Another stretch, the Rajgad (Velha)-Balvad-Shenvad Road, was also shut after a portion of the roadway collapsed near Balvad following heavy rainfall. Traffic has been diverted through Gohini, Bhutonde, Pal Budruk, Wajeghar and Khariv for vehicles travelling towards Velha and Pune. Motorists from Balvad have been advised to use the Shenwad-Pasli-Jadhavwadi-Bhatti route.The disruptions came as multiple stations across the Sahyadris registered triple-digit rainfall during the 24 hours ending Thursday morning. Tamhini recorded the highest rainfall at 280mm, followed by Shirgaon (250mm), Bhira (248mm), Upper Vaitarna Lake (230mm), Mid Vaitarna Lake (207mm), Dawdi (196mm), Dungerwadi (170mm), Ambone (150mm), Lonavla (133mm), Mulshi Camp (124mm), Bhatsa Lake (123mm), Mulshi Bung (118mm), Koyna (Navja) (108mm) and Walvan (106mm).While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not indicated the formation of a fresh low-pressure area in its latest synoptic bulletin, independent weather expert Abhijit Modak said weather charts suggested a new low-pressure system had developed over Madhya Pradesh. IMD data showed that during the 12-hour period ending 8.30pm on Thursday, Shivajinagar recorded 9.3mm of rainfall, followed by Lohegaon (6.6mm), Koregaon park (6.5mm) and Chinchwad (5.5mm).According to him, the system primarily enhanced rainfall over north Maharashtra, especially the Nashik region, from Wednesday night into Thursday and is unlikely to significantly impact rainfall across the rest of the state. He added that rainfall activity is expected to weaken from Friday.Meanwhile, state disaster management data showed that rain-related accidents claimed 74 lives and injured 104 people across the state from June 1 to July 23. Structure collapses accounted for the highest casualties, with 36 deaths and 69 injuries, followed by lightning strikes, which have killed 23 people and injured 17. Landslides and mudflows have claimed six lives, while floods have resulted in three deaths.
