By Sunita 

Pune: It is again raining across the State after a two-day dry spell. It is raining heavily at many places. Heavy to very heavy rains have been predicted in many districts. It has been raining from the wee hours on Friday in Pune. The dams supplying water to the city are filled to their capacity.

There is a heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast in the ghat sections, including Pune. Elsewhere, moderate to heavy showers are predicted. An orange alert has been issued in Pune district on Friday. Rainfall activity is likely to increase in the next 2-3 days.

Red alert in Kolhapur, orange alert in Pune, Konkan

Konkan, western Maharashtra, Vidarbha and some districts in Marathwada are likely to receive very heavy rainfall on Friday. An orange alert has been issued in Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts in Konkan. It has also been issued in Satara and Pune districts. However, Kolhapur district has a red alert. Very heavy rains are predicted in Kolhapur. An orange alert has been issued in Vidarbha and some districts in Marathwada. Thane, Palghar, Nashik, including Mumbai have an orange alert.

Heavy rainfall forecast for next three days in the State

Senior meteorologist Manikrao Khule has predicted heavy showers till August 4 across the State. Later, moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to occur in the State.

Bhatghar Dam has 98 pc storage

The British-era Bhatghar dam in Bhor taluka filled to its capacity on Friday morning. The water storage is 98 pc. A test of its automatic sluice gates was conducted in the morning. Later, water release started from the dam into the Nira river. At present, 31,000 cusecs of water is being discharged. This will help raise the water level in the Ujani dam.

Water storage in four reservoirs in Khadakwasla chain

The four dams in the Khadakwasla chain have been filled to their respective capacity as follows: Khadakwasla – 72.83 pc, Varasgaon – 92.82 pc, Temghar – 93.28 pc and Panshet – 90.72 pc.