19 Crore Rain Alerts Sent via ‘Sachet’ as Maharashtra Battles Floods

From the State Emergency Operations Centre: Fast coordination for rescue and relief work through ‘Sachet’ system – 1.9 billion mobile text messages sent with rain and lightning alerts State Emergency Operations Centre Information

Effective coordination with all response agencies during the heavy rainfall period from May 24 to 26

Mumbai: During the disaster period of heavy rainfall, the State Emergency Operations Centre has been equipped with an advanced communication system and a Decision Support System (DSS) that analyzes disaster-related information to coordinate effectively with all response agencies. In emergency situations, advance alerts about rain and lightning are given to the public through the ‘Sachet’ system. Between May 26 and 27, 1.92 billion mobile text messages were sent from the ‘Sachet’ system to alert citizens in advance about rain and lightning. Through this, 52 alerts were issued to keep citizens vigilant, informed Disaster Management Director Satishkumar Khadke.

Due to heavy rainfall in various districts of the state between May 24 to 26, immediate actions have been taken for rescue and relief. Mr. Khadke said that 24×7 officers/employees are available for contact at the centre.

Teams for help and rescue work

Four teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) – two in Nagpur and two in Dhule – have been kept on standby. The teams to be deployed in flood-affected areas of Nanded have been dispatched from Dhule. The teams to be deployed in Gadchiroli are being sent from Nagpur. In addition, SDRF units have also been stationed at vulnerable locations.

Mumbai city, Pune, Satara, Solapur, Raigad, and Mumbai suburbs were severely affected by the heavy rainfall. In Mumbai city and suburbs, harbor local railway services were temporarily halted due to waterlogging on tracks. Due to the downpour, fiber optic cables were cut at some locations, disrupting mobile tower systems. These were quickly restored through coordination, he added.

In Pune district, during the period from May 24 to 25, Daund recorded the highest rainfall at 117 mm. Baramati recorded 104.75 mm, and Indapur 63.25 mm. In Baramati, partial collapse of 25 houses was reported.

People stranded in flood rescued safely

In Mouje Katewadi of Pune district, seven people stranded in floodwaters were rescued safely. In Baramati taluka, 70–80 families were relocated to safer places. Considering the flood situation, two NDRF teams were deployed. In Indapur, two individuals trapped in floodwaters were safely rescued.

In Satara district, during the period from May 24 to 25, Phaltan received 163.5 mm rainfall. Near the village of Dudhebavi in Phaltan taluka, 30 people were stranded on the Dahivadi-Phaltan road due to flooding. Accommodation and food arrangements were made for them in the nearby village with the coordination of the Phaltan tehsildar. An NDRF team was dispatched from Baramati to Phaltan at night, and monitored the flood situation there. All road traffic has resumed and rainfall in the district has reduced.

In Solapur district, from May 24 to 25, 67.75 mm rainfall was recorded. Due to the heavy rainfall, water from canals overflowed into streams and drains, prompting alerts for villages along the Nira river.

In Malshiras taluka, near the village of Kurubavi, six individuals stranded in the riverbed were rescued by the NDRF team from Indapur. With the help of this team, all citizens were safely relocated. In Pandharpur, three individuals stranded in the Bhima river near the Vitthal temple were safely moved to secure locations.

Between May 24 and 26, eight people lost their lives due to lightning, wall collapse, tree fall, and drowning during the heavy rainfall. Two others were injured. Among the deceased: one in Raigad district, three in Pune, two in Jalna, one in Ahilyanagar, and one in Mumbai city. Two people were injured in Washim district. In addition, four animals died in Latur, one in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, two in Jalna, and one in Nashik, totaling eight animal deaths. One animal was reported injured in Jalna district, as per the Disaster Management Cell.

Monsoon arrived 15 days early

Monsoon has arrived in Maharashtra 15 days ahead of schedule. It entered Sindhudurg district on May 25 and reached Mumbai on May 26. Normally, the monsoon arrives around June 11 every year. The Meteorological Department issued an alert after a low-pressure area formed over the Arabian Sea on May 22. It was expected to develop into a cyclone over the next two to three days. However, it remained a low-pressure zone, impacting areas 40 km north of Ratnagiri and south of Dapoli.

As a result, from May 24 to 27, there was extremely heavy rainfall in red-alert districts including Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara Ghats, Kolhapur Ghats, Thane, Pune, Raigad, Satara, Mumbai, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli. In central Maharashtra, Baramati, Daund, and Indapur in Pune district and Phaltan in Satara district experienced heavy rainfall. Orange-alert districts such as Raigad, Pune Ghats, Latur, Nanded, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Thane, Satara, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Ahilyanagar, Sangli, Solapur, Beed, Latur, and Dharashiv also witnessed flooding and damage due to heavy rains.