Pune issues flood alerts as Khadakwasla Dam discharge rises amid heavy rainfall

Ektanagari Residents Evacuated, Alerts Issued For Low-Lying Areas; Khadakwasla Water Release At 43,571 Cusec, Highest Of Season So Far

Pune, Jul 31: Owing to heavy rainfall in the catchment area, water was discharged from Khadakwasla Dam near the city on Friday, resulting in the inundation of low-lying areas along the Mutha river.Water was also discharged from Radhanagari Dam in Kolhapur district of western Maharashtra.At 3 pm, the discharge from Khadakwasla Dam was increased from 35,574 to 43,571 cusecs (cubic feet per second), the irrigation department said.Low-lying areas affectedAccording to the Pune Municipal Corporation's disaster management department, floodwaters entered three housing societies in Ekta Nagar along Sinhgad Road in the city."Around 40 families have been shifted to safety," said an official.Pune Alert! 35,574 Cusecs Water Release From Khadakwasla Dam | SaudaGhar NewsKhadakwasla Dam water discharge into the Mutha River has been increased following heavy rainfall in the catchment area and a rapid rise in reservoir levels. The discharge reached 27,203 cusecs at 1 PM… pic.twitter.com/i0TQOYKdK8— SaudaGhar (@SaudaGhar) July 31, 2026 Kolhapur dams under watchElsewhere, Radhanagari Dam in Kolhapur district also reached full capacity, prompting authorities to release water.According to district officials, automatic gates 3 and 6 were opened. With 2,856 cusecs of water being discharged through the gates and 1,400 cusecs from the powerhouse, the total discharge stood at 4,256 cusecs. The dam currently holds 8.35 TMC of water.Several Crore Revenue Leak In Birbhum During TMC Regime; Says CM Suvendu AdhikariOfficials said 35 weirs in Kolhapur district are currently submerged. These include weirs on the Panchganga, Kasari, Bhogavati, Kumbhi, Dudhganga, Warna, Vedganga and Hiranyakeshi rivers.Other major dams in the district also recorded high storage. Tulsi is at 84.23 per cent, Warna at 85.71 per cent, Kasari at 83.97 per cent, Kadvi at 99.5 per cent, and Chitri, Jangamhatti, Ghatprabha, Jambhre and Sarfanala at 100 per cent each.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

A 20-day-old baby was rescued from a flooded residential area in Pune's Ekta Nagar on Friday after water released from the Khadakwasla Dam inundated low-lying localities along the Mutha River following heavy rainfall in the dam's catchment area.A video of the rescue, which has since gone viral, shows residents wading through knee-deep floodwater while leaving a residential building. In the footage, a security guard is seen carefully carrying the newborn in his arms to a safer location as floodwaters surrounded the area. The flooding occurred after authorities increased the discharge from Khadakwasla Dam due to continuous rainfall in the catchment region. According to the irrigation department, the water release was raised from 35,574 cusecs to 43,571 cusecs at around 3 pm on Friday.The Pune Municipal Corporation's disaster management department said floodwaters entered three housing societies in Ekta Nagar along Sinhgad Road, prompting evacuation measures."Nearly 40 families have been shifted to safer locations," a civic official said.#PuneRains: Flood-Like Situation Across City As Heavy Rain Causes Massive Waterlogging, Disrupts Traffic #PuneNews #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/ltLt5oh3C3— Free Press Journal (@fpjindia) July 31, 2026 Pune Rain Alert: IMD Forecasts Extremely Heavy Rain In Ghats, Heavy Showers Across District Until August 4 Meanwhile, heavy rains also impacted Kolhapur district, where the Radhanagari Dam reached full capacity, forcing authorities to release water. Officials opened the dam's automatic gates, releasing 2,856 cusecs through the gates and 1,400 cusecs from the powerhouse, taking the total discharge to 4,256 cusecs.District authorities said 35 weirs across Kolhapur are currently submerged, including those on the Panchganga, Kasari, Bhogavati, Kumbhi, Dudhganga, Warna, Vedganga and Hiranyakeshi rivers.Several other dams in the district also reported high storage levels. While Tulsi, Warna, Kasari and Kadvi reservoirs are nearing capacity, Chitri, Jangamhatti, Ghatprabha, Jambhre and Sarfanala dams have reached full storage, prompting officials to closely monitor the situation.Authorities have urged residents living near riverbanks and low-lying areas to remain alert as water levels continue to fluctuate following the controlled releases from the reservoirs.

Pune: With continuous rainfall lashing Pune district and a Red Alert in effect, the Water Resources Department has announced that the discharge from the Khadakwasla Dam will be increased to 45,000 cusecs. Authorities have urged residents living along the Mutha River to remain alert, as the higher release could lead to flooding in low-lying areas.The announcement was made by Kiran Deshmukh, Executive Engineer, Khadakwasla Irrigation Division, who appealed to citizens to take all necessary precautions. Officials said the increase in water discharge is necessary due to continuous inflows into the reservoir following persistent rainfall in the dam's catchment area.#WATCH | Red Alert In Pune; Khadakwasla Dam To Release 45,000 Cusecs, Flood Warning Issued #PuneNews #PuneRains #FloorWarning pic.twitter.com/ywWmwaQ5bn— Free Press Journal (@fpjindia) July 31, 2026 Ekta Nagar Faces High Flood RiskThe administration has warned that Ekta Nagar is likely to face a flood-like situation once the dam discharge crosses 30,000 cusecs. Since the release is expected to be increased to 45,000 cusecs, residents of Ekta Nagar and other areas along the Mutha River have been advised to stay away from the riverbank and remain prepared for a possible rise in water levels. Red Alert Remains in ForcePune has been witnessing heavy rainfall over the past few days, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a Red Alert for the district. In view of the weather forecast and the increased dam discharge, district authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with emergency response agencies.Administration Appeals for CautionThe administration has appealed to citizens not to venture near the river, avoid waterlogged areas, and follow official advisories. People living in vulnerable locations have been asked to remain vigilant and cooperate with authorities if precautionary measures or evacuations become necessary.