Flood hit Karad-Kolhapur NH-4 stretch thrown open for heavy vehicles after a week

KOLHAPUR: In a relief to thec, the 120km Karad-to-Kolhapur stretch of the National Highway (NH)-4 connecting Mumbai and Bengaluru was thrown open on Monday for movement of heavy vehicles after almost a week.


On priority, the Kolhapur district administration moved heavy vehicles carrying essential commodities like fuel, milk, vegetables and food grains into Kolhapur city around 6.30am on Monday.

Subsequently, they allowed movement of private heavy vehicles like trucks and buses as the day progressed.

"A decision on allowing light commercial and light motor vehicles on the highway will be taken later in the day in coordination with the Karnataka police," Kolhapur’s superintendent of police Abhinav Deshmukh told TOI.

The NH-4 goes via Pune, Karad, Kolhapur in Maharashtra and Belgavi in neighbouring Karnataka and ranks among the busiest highways in the country.

Following a deluge on August 4 and 5 caused by heavy rains in the catchment areas of the dams across Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts, the irrigation authorities had to effect heavy discharge of water from these dams. Two major rivers Krishna and Panchagang and their tributaries were also overflowing and large swathes of land in Sangli and Kolhapur were left totally submerged under flood waters.

Some stretches of the NH-4 at Karad and the Panchaganga river bridge near the entrance to Kolhapur city were submerged, prompting the district and highway authorities to shut the 120km highway stretch for movement of all types of vehicles and wait for the water level to recede. The Kolhapur-Belgavi stretch, too, was affected by flooding caused by Yamakarni river at Kognoli phata.

All vehicles heading towards Kolhapur and Belgavi were stopped at Karad, while vehicles moving towards Pune/Mumbai from Belgavi were stopped near the state border. The situation continued for a week, leaving a large number of vehicles stranded on either ends of the highway. It also affected supply of essential commodities to the flood-hit areas.

Pune division’s state highway superintendent Milind Mohite said, "The flood waters on the highway stretch have receded significantly in the last 24 hours. We have opened the highway only for heavy vehicles. At two places near Kolhapur, the flood water is still upto one or two ft, hence we have not opened the highway for all vehicles. We will take decision after discussing the matter with Sangli and Kolhapur district administrations."

Kolhapur SP Abhinav Deshmukh said, “We are not allowing movement of light commercial and light motor vehicles for now as the approach roads to the Panchaganga river bridge remain submerged under one foot level water that is flowing with a strong current.”

In Kolhapur city, long queues were seen at all fuel outlets as petrol/diesel was not available for private citizens for more than four days. The Kolhapur district administration had restrained sale of fuel only to the teams engaged in rescue operation in view of the grave flood situation.

Deshmukh said, “The police have allowed heavy vehicle traffic on the Kolhapur-Belgavi stretch as the same is no more under water.”

Kolhapur city appeared to be slowly returning to normalcy on Monday with signs of routine activity on the city roads, markets and educational institutions. Officials said, adding the situation would only improve further on Tuesday.

Both, Kolhapur and Sangli districts, experienced less rainfall activity in the last 24 hours.

The Panchaganga river water level at the Rajaram barrage in Kolhapur city was measured at 49.2 feet at 7am on Monday as against 49.9 feet at 7pm on Sunday. The river continues to flow above the 43-ft danger mark.

Discharge from Koyna dam in Satara district was brought down at 48,893 cubic feet per second (cusecs) at 7am on Monday as against 65,844 cusecs at 5pm on Sunday.