Pune: With floodwaters inundating large parts of Alandi on Monday and the Indrayani river swelling to dangerous levels, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and temple authorities appealed to warkaris to avoid travelling to Alandi and Dehu for the Ashadhi Wari and instead proceed directly to Pune to join the annual pilgrimage.The Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi is scheduled to leave Alandi on July 8, while the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi will begin its journey from Dehu on July 7. Both palkhis are expected to halt in Pune on July 9 and 10 before continuing towards Pandharpur.The appeal came after floodwaters submerged several parts of Alandi, forcing authorities to close all four bridges across the Indrayani river. Although some warkaris had already reached the temple town, thousands more were expected over the next two days. The state government and temple authorities urged devotees to skip Alandi and join the procession from Pune instead.Flooding also affected residential localities, including Bhakta Niwas, where rising waters stranded devotees and residents. The district administration rescued more than 450 people, including 20 Navi Mumbai police personnel who were trapped on the first floor of a Bhakta Niwas building after floodwaters cut off access.“It is not safe for warkaris to travel to Dehu and Alandi because of the flood situation. They should proceed directly to Pune. We have made all necessary arrangements for the devotees, including setting up the maximum possible number of German hangars for their accommodation,” Fadnavis said.Rajendra Umap, trustee and head of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi programme, said every warkari wishes to witness the beginning of the pilgrimage in Alandi, but the prevailing conditions make travel unsafe.“Warkaris should halt wherever they are and avoid proceeding towards Alandi. We are in constant contact with the heads of the dindis, and devotees should stay in touch with their respective dindi chiefs and follow their instructions. Our priority is to ensure that the Wari is completed safely,” Umap said.Alandi Municipal Council chief executive officer Madhav Khandekar said nearly 450 devotees stranded by floodwaters had been safely rescued, while another 150 residents were shifted to safer places as a precaution.“The water is still flowing seven to eight feet above the bridge over the river. Most parts of the town remain flooded, and the situation has not changed,” Khandekar said.He added that flooding has cut off Alandi’s road connectivity with Pimpri Chinchwad. Traffic bound for Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad is being diverted through alternate routes via Dhanori and Chakan.Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) Maruti Jagtap of the Pimpri Chinchwad police said rescue teams had evacuated warkaris from dharamshalas at Siddhabet and other locations along the Indrayani river, adding that the rescue operation was still in progress.Jagtap urged devotees staying in dharamshalas to vacate the premises as a safety measure. Police also appealed to warkaris not to enter Alandi until the flood situation improves, while those already on their way were advised to halt at their current locations.
