Pravara River

Context: Three personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) died after their boat capsized during a rescue attempt the Pravara River in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district.

Key Facts about Pravara River

• Location: Maharashtra, India
• Origin: Eastern slopes of the Sahyadris between Kulang and Ratangad mountains in Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra.
• It is the only major tributary of the Godavari to have both its source and confluence located within the same district—Ahmednagar.
• It’s also the only tributary among the seven major ones that originates in the Western Ghats, similar to the Godavari itself.

Course:

• Flows into Bhandardara town where Bhandardara Dam is constructed, forming Arthur Lake.
• Arthur Lake periodically releases water, creating Umbrella Falls.
• Flows eastward, reaches Sangamner where Mahalungi River merges.
• Joins with River Mula before reaching Nevasa.
• Empties into the Godavari River at Pravara Sangam, 208 km from its source.

Tributaries:

• Mahalungi: Originates on southern and eastern slopes of Patta and Aundha mountains, merges with Pravara at Sangamner.
• Mula: Rises on eastern slopes of Sahyadris between Ratangad and Harichandragad, joins Pravara before Nevasa.
• Adhala: Originates north of Akole, merges with Pravara west of Sangamner.

Dams:

• Bhandardara Dam: Located near Bhandardara town.
• Nilwande Dam: Adjacent to the river.

Etymology: According to Indian Vedas, Sage Agastya meditated by consuming only water and air for a long time. Due to his incredible devotion, Lord Shiva appeared, blessed him, and left a stream of Ganga that came to be known as the Pravara River