Canal water floods roads, traffic chaos during peak hours in east Pune

Pune: A massive traffic chaos prevailed in the eastern parts of the city during Monday peak hours — morning to around 2pm — after roads were left inundated following a breach in the Mutha Right Bank canal around 3am. The city traffic police had to deploy over 100 personnel to manage the situation.Roads across the eastern corridor in areas including Magarpatta, Amanora, Mundhwa, Hadapsar, Solapur Road and the Kharadi Bridge stretch were submerged, disrupting vehicular movement.Additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil told TOI: " The breach was noticed only around 8.30am. Our personnel diverted traffic through alternative routes and issued an advisory. Vehicles were sent towards Mundhwa from Hadapsar and motorists were redirected towards the Magarpatta area from Mundhwa." Traffic police also deployed a strong bandobust and advised citizens to either wait at safe spots or go home.A stormwater drainage system located near the canal aggravated the situation. The drainage system has a pipeline leading towards the Magarpatta area. When canal water entered it, stormwater drain covers on the Hadapsar-Kharadi Road were blown off due to the strong water pressure and led to the flooding on the roads.Many vehicles were partially submerged, while several others broke down after commuters attempted to navigate through the waterlogged roads to reach their workplace.Swagat Kasare, a techie working in Magarpatta, said he encountered chaos en route to work. "The road was filled with knee-deep water. I tried to move ahead, but water entered my bike's exhaust and it broke down," he said.Vikram Salunke, managing director of Accurate Engineering, said, "Water entered our company premises around 3am. We repeatedly tried to contact disaster management and district collectorate officials, but received no response. We then called the fire brigade. Their team visited the site and informed the irrigation department around 7am." He said water has damaged machinery and other materials.Yuvraj Paigude, HR head of Poonawalla Intervalves, said, "Water entered our company premises, causing extensive damage to the furniture and the security cabin. The parking area was flooded. Three four-wheelers and 12 motorcycles were submerged."Water entered the premises of several private companies in the Hadapsar Industrial Estate, causing inconvenience, damage and heavy traffic congestion. The estate's office-bearers told TOI: "Water entered the premises of around 20 companies, damaging machinery and finished goods worth over Rs18 crore."Satish Magar, CMD of Magarpatta Township Development and Construction Company, said, "There was no damage to vehicles within residential complexes. Waterlogging was largely restricted to the main roads of Magarpatta City. Our team visited the breach site to assist the authorities."Meanwhile, in the morning, officials from the state irrigation department and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) reached the breach site near the Hadapsar Industrial Estate and began repair works. They filled the gap with stones and mud.Irrigation officials stopped the water flow into the canal from the Khadakwasla dam. Executive engineer of the state irrigation department Kiran Deshmukh said, "The canal was constructed in 1965 and is an old structure. There is an underpass beneath the canal. The bank spot might have weakened over time and gradual seepage could have led to the breach. We have stopped water flow in the canal for the next four days and have initiated repair work."PMC's disaster management officer Ganesh Sonune said, "Initially, we received calls from Magarpatta residents reporting a pipeline breach. Our team began to investigate and later found it be a breach in the canal. The pipeline passing through Magarpatta is 22km long and we inspected it for leaks."He said the team was working on repairs with irrigation officials. "We will study the entire canal to identify vulnerable spots along its banks," he said, adding: "We will examine the encroachment issue along the banks too and coordinate with irrigation officials, since the land belongs to them."Meanwhile, company representatives from the Hadapsar Industrial Estate said they have been raising concerns about encroachments on irrigation canal banks for the last six years. Officials have written multiple letters to the PMC and the state irrigation department, seeking removal of encroachments. They also flagged illegal dumping in the canal that obstructs water flow and increases the risk of breaches. The representatives said they will continue to pursue the issue with the authorities.