Pune: Continuous heavy rainfall in the Khadakwasla dam chain led to the release of a large volume of water into the Mutha River on Sunday night, causing the Bhide and Shivane bridges to be submerged again on Monday (July 29) morning.

The water release started on Sunday (July 28) night due to ongoing rain in the dam area. Warnings were issued to settlements along the riverbanks. On Monday morning, as water began flowing over the Bhide bridge, police erected temporary barriers on both sides and closed it to traffic.

Vehicles typically using the Bhide bridge were directed to use alternative routes via Deccan Gymkhana and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Bridge. The traffic police announced that the bridge would be reopened once the water recedes.

The dam areas supplying water to Pune are experiencing significant rainfall, resulting in more than 80% water storage in all four dams serving the city.

The combined water storage in these dams has reached 86.51%. This is a matter of satisfaction and joy for Pune residents, as last year at this time, the storage was at 74.17%.

The good rainfall has positively impacted reservoir levels. The four main dams supplying water to Pune—Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon, and Temghar—have accumulated a total of 25.22 TMC of water.

Water Storage in Pune's Dams:

• Khadakwasla: 86.24%

• Panshet: 94.99%

• Varasgaon: 81.46%

• Temghar: 80.03%

According to the latest information, water release from the Khadakwasla dam is now being released at a rate of 22,880 cusecs. Irrigation department officials have advised citizens to avoid entering prohibited areas of the riverbed.

The significant discharge of water in the Mutha River is due to heavy rains in the Khadakwasla dam area. This decision follows recent heavy rains in Pune, which caused water to enter many homes, resulting in several days of inconvenience for Pune residents.