Latur receives highest rainfall

The monsoon has hit many parts of Maharashtra, with the parched Latur region receiving the highest rainfall (91 mm) recorded on Sunday. In the rest of the state, Palghar, Chandrapur, Konkan, Bhandara and Nashik received good rainfall, with some areas even seeing floods. The government has released water from some dams after they were over-flooded due to the heavy rains.

As per the Met department, Latur received the highest rainfall on Sunday, followed by Palghar (88 mm) and Raigad (66 mm). Latur city in drought-prone Marathwada was in the news for receiving water carried in train wagons starting from January this year. The heavy rainfall over the past few days has filled all the small dams and check dams there. However, Manjara dam is awaiting good rainfall. Officials in the area said that the water collected due to the heavy rainfall could last for five to six months if supplied every two days.

Two dams, Gangapur and Nandur Madhyameshwar, in Nashik released 1,000 and 16,014 cusecs of water respectively as both were filled completely, an official from the state disaster management cell said. The state has been keenly observing the water levels in the dams since the rainfall in some areas is more than in others, he added.

Some parts of Chandrapur witnessed flooding, but the disaster management cell said there were no untoward incidents. In Konkan, a few landslides were reported, but there were no casualties, the official said.

An official from the water conservation department expressed pleasure over the rainfall as the works done under the Jalyukta Shivar scheme have yielded positive results. “We are conducting a review of works done so far and are preparing an assessment report. Small dams have filled up, while the widening of rivers and nullahs has helped store the water,” he added.

As per the Met department, the south-west monsoon was vigorous over Marathwada and active over the Konkan, due to which they received heavy rainfall. On August 1, rain and thundershowers have been predicted in most places in Konkan, central Maharashtra and Marathwada.

The Met department has advised fishermen not to venture out to the sea during the next 24 hours, as winds will blow towards the western shore at a speed of 40-45 kmph.