Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar Visits Pune District Control Room; Directs Immediate Response to Rain-Related Emergencies

Deputy CM Urges Citizens to Contact Administration Immediately in Any Emergency

Pune, July 2026 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar on Wednesday visited the Pune District Control Room at the District Collectorate to review the situation arising from heavy rainfall across the district. She directed officials to implement immediate relief and response measures, emphasizing that disaster management agencies must act swiftly considering the seriousness of the situation.

Assuring citizens that the State Government and district administration stand firmly with them during the ongoing monsoon emergency, Deputy CM Pawar appealed to people not to believe rumours, to strictly follow official advisories, and to immediately contact the administration in case of any emergency.

The review meeting was attended by MLA Chetan Tupe, Zilla Parishad President Viradhwal Jagdale, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Gajanan Patil, Resident Deputy Collector Jyoti Kadam, Superintending Engineer of the Irrigation Department, District Disaster Management Officer Vitthal Banote, and other senior officials.

Deputy CM Pawar said that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a Red Alert for Pune district for July 4, 5, and 6, 2026. The district recorded 46.9 mm of rainfall on July 5 and 59 mm on July 6. During the two days, 27 out of 158 revenue circles received more than 65 mm of rainfall.

She informed that disaster response operations are being carried out with the deployment of two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, four Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) teams, nearly 300 trained local disaster volunteers (Aapda Mitras), and five local rescue agencies. Close coordination has also been maintained among the State Disaster Management Cell, District Disaster Management Cell, Pune Municipal Corporation, PMRDA, police, and other government departments.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister, 568 people have been safely rescued and evacuated from flood-affected areas. Authorities have reported nine minor landslides, while nine roads have been temporarily closed due to adverse weather conditions.

Large-scale evacuations have also been undertaken in vulnerable locations across the district. Around 250 residents from Taje village in Maval taluka were shifted to safer places. Additional evacuations included 27 people from Bhavadi Kadamvasti, eight from Vadgaon Shinde, 40–50 from Talegaon Dabhade, 30 from Ghorwadi, 80 from Ambethan-Chakan, 20 from Success Point, Sumbre Nagar, 100–110 people from Lonavala, and eight residents from Peth village.

Deputy CM Pawar said an Orange Alert has now been issued for the ghat regions of the district. As a precautionary measure, all primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools in Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed, Maval, Mulshi, Rajgad, and Bhor talukas have been declared closed.

To ensure public safety during the monsoon, Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 has been imposed until August 31 at several tourist destinations in the Lonavala region of Maval taluka, including Bhaje Waterfall, Lohagad Fort, Visapur Fort, Tikona Fort, Tung Fort, Tiger Point, Lion’s Point, and Pavana Dam.

The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted the rising water level in the Indrayani River due to inflows from the free catchment area. As the annual Palkhi procession is scheduled to depart from Dehu on Thursday and Alandi the following day, she appealed to Warkaris (pilgrims) not to gather at Dehu or Alandi. Instead, devotees have been advised to join the procession only after it enters the limits of Pune Municipal Corporation, where accommodation has been arranged in municipal schools.

Providing an update on reservoir levels, Pawar said Jadhavwadi Dam and Tata Dam in Lonavala are at 100 per cent capacity. Water storage in other reservoirs stands at 20.30 per cent in Khadakwasla Dam, 29.6 per cent in Varasgaon Dam, 31.51 per cent in Panshet Dam, 14.99 per cent in Temghar Dam, 32.13 per cent in Mulshi Dam, and 48.75 per cent in Pavana Dam.

District Collector Jitendra Dudi briefed the Deputy Chief Minister on the overall situation in the district. During the meeting, Pawar directed officials to provide ₹4 lakh as ex gratia compensation to the legal heirs of those who lost their lives in rain-related incidents. She instructed all departments to maintain constant vigilance and ensure prompt assistance to affected citizens throughout the ongoing monsoon season.