Youth feared drowned in weekend rain

Nashik: The fire department on Sunday received news of a 22-year-old youth getting drowned while swimming in Valdevi river near Nashik Road.
"Nilesh Rohidas Naik was seen swimming for half a kilometre in the river after which he disappeared," said Rajendra Bairagi, station officer at the fire department.
Bairagi said they did not find any body until Monday evening even as search operations continue.
The fire department's phone has been ringing continuously for the past two days. Residents in distress have been seeking fire officials' aid in face of clogged roads filled with knee-deep water.
There were around 100 distress calls received by the fire department on Sunday. "Fifteen cases of tree-felling were reported in various parts of the city, while eight rescue calls were registered," he added.
Bairagi said that five cases of house and wall collapse in the old parts of the city and 28 cases of waterlogging were also registered. The department also received two calls relating to short circuit.
Since Monday morning, the fire brigade department has received 10 phone calls even as additional calls were asked to wait in queue until the previous cases were resolved.
Rescue vans, fire tenders, portable and floating water pumps, boats, tree cutters, quick response ladder and other equipment have been pressed into action to fight the natural calamity, the official said.
Chief fire officer Anil Mahajan said that around 70 officials have been deployed at various spots of the city. "Officials from disaster management, drainage and health department have also been roped in to manage the crisis. Continuous announcements along the ghats of the Godavari, Valdevi, Nasardi and Takli are being made for residents to evacuate as the flood levels rise," he said.
Mahajan appealed that the residents should maintain safe distance from the ghats as water pressure of the river is immense.