Pune Rains: Indrayani River Floods Alandi, 250 Pilgrims Rescued As Bridges Go Underwater
Pune Rains: Indrayani River Floods Alandi, 250 Pilgrims Rescued As Bridges Go Underwater
Pune, July 6: Heavy rainfall in the Maval region has triggered severe flooding in the Indrayani River, inundating several parts of Alandi and prompting emergency rescue operations. Around 250 Warkaris (pilgrims) stranded in dharamshalas and temple premises were safely evacuated by the Alandi Municipal Council’s emergency response team on Sunday morning.
The flooding intensified after a large volume of water was released from the Vadivale Dam, causing the Indrayani River to swell rapidly. Water entered several dharamshalas along the riverbank in the Siddhabet-Gopalpura area, where pilgrims had been staying.
According to officials, 20 pilgrims were rescued from the Dnyaneshwari Temple, 100 from Indrayani Nagar, 60 from Thakur Buwa Dharamshala, and around 20 others from nearby dharamshalas in Gopalpura. In a separate operation, 10 pilgrims stranded in the darshan queue area near the Vithageshwar Temple on the banks of the Indrayani River were also brought to safety.
Authorities have issued flood alerts to all pilgrim accommodations in the Siddhabet area and to dharamshalas housing Warkari students along the Sadhakashram–Dudulgaon road, urging residents and visitors to remain vigilant.
The floodwaters also caused damage to public infrastructure. Two temporary changing rooms constructed for women pilgrims along the riverbank were washed away, while sections of the darshan queue structure near the temple were swept away. Protective railings and safety fencing on both the old and new bridges suffered extensive damage.
Several prasad shops near the Shani Temple on the western side of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Temple complex were flooded, resulting in losses worth thousands of rupees.
Multiple bridges have been submerged due to the rising water levels, including the bridge connecting Sadhakashram and Dnyaneshwari Temple, the bridge near Garud Stambh on the Dehu Phata–Chakan road, and both the old and new bridges linking Alandi Municipal Council Chowk with Dehu Phata.
Meanwhile, water has reached the parapet level of the bridge on the Alandi–Charholi bypass road. Traffic is continuing on the route with caution, while authorities are closely monitoring the situation and urging the public to avoid unnecessary travel in flood-affected areas.
