Panic gripped the Baramati region early Sunday morning after a major breach in the Nira Left Canal sent torrents of water rushing into nearby villages, submerging homes and farmlands. The sudden flooding has forced local authorities to issue a high alert and mobilize emergency teams to prevent further damage and ensure the safety of residents.
According to irrigation department officials, the breach occurred near the village of Nimgaon Ketki around 4:00 a.m. Residents were jolted awake as water gushed through the broken embankment, flooding dozens of homes and sweeping across vast stretches of agricultural land. The affected areas include Nimgaon Ketki, Hol, and parts of the Baramati taluka, where water levels rose rapidly, catching many off guard.
Farmers reported that standing crops, including sugarcane and vegetables, were submerged within minutes, raising fears of significant agricultural losses.
Local administration, along with disaster management teams, rushed to the scene to coordinate rescue and relief operations. Rescue boats and emergency vehicles were deployed to evacuate families from low-lying areas. Temporary shelters have been set up in nearby schools and community centers for displaced residents.
District Collector Dr. Pankaj Deshmukh visited the site and assured that all necessary steps were being taken:
“Protecting lives is our top priority. We are monitoring the situation closely and have asked people in vulnerable areas to remain alert and cooperate with authorities.”
Dozens of houses in Nimgaon Ketki and surrounding villages have been inundated, with families losing household items and food supplies to the floodwaters. Hundreds of acres of farmland, mostly planted with sugarcane, wheat, and vegetables, have been affected. Early estimates suggest that the damage could run into lakhs of rupees, threatening the livelihoods of local farmers. Roads and bridges in the affected region have also suffered damage, hampering relief efforts and movement.
Preliminary investigations suggest that heavy rainfall in the catchment area, combined with aging canal infrastructure and possible blockages, may have contributed to the breach. The irrigation department has initiated repairs, but officials warn that it may take several hours to fully plug the leak and restore normalcy.
