Vaitarna
| Vaitarna | |
|---|---|
 Vaitarna River, view from Silent Hill Resort | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Trimbakeshwar, Nashik |
| • location | Maharashtra |
| Mouth | Arabian Sea |
• location | Palghar district, Maharashtra |
| Length | 154 km (96 mi)approx. |
The Vaitarna River (IAST: Vaitarṇā, pronunciation: [ʋəit̪əɾɳaː]) is a river in Nashik and Palghar district of Maharashtra. The Tansa is its left bank tributary and the Pinjal, Dehraja, and Surya its right bank tributaries. Upper stretches of the Vaitarna are clean but in lower stretches discharge of untreated industrial and civic waste makes the Vaitarna one of the most polluted rivers in India.[1]
Course
It originates in Sahyadri mountain ranges near Trimbakeshwar. The Vaitarna is just 2 km away from India’s second longest river, the Godavari. Vaitarna has a confluence with the Tansa just before it enters the Arabian Sea. Jhow and Wadhiv islands lie in its estuary. Arnala Island lies off its mouth. It has three major dams which supply water to Mumbai.
Significance
The Vaitarna supplies much of Mumbai's drinking water. It is the largest river in the Northern Konkan region and drains Maharashtra's whole Palghar district.
Legacy
The SS Vaitarna, a steamship, was named after the river. On 8 November 1888, with hundreds of passengers on board, the ship went missing in the 1888 Arabian Sea cyclone during a crossing from Mandvi to Bombay. The ship was nicknamed Vijli or Bijli, literally electricity, as it was lit with electric bulbs.[2] The missing ship has also been called the "Titanic of Gujarat".[3][4][5]
A railway bridge over the river has been in the news for a number of people losing their life while crossing it.[6]
References
- ^ Badri Chaterjee (4 October 2017). "Maharashtra has the most polluted rivers in India: Report". Hindustan Times. Mumbai. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ Ved, Mahendra (23 April 2012). "India, too, had sinking of 'Vilji' 124 years ago". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "Vignettes of maritime history Ancient sea route maps, sketches of coastlines, architecture, textiles and rare pictures of legendary vessels are lined up for public viewing at an exhibition called 'Gujarat and the sea' at NID. The exhibition, which will be open on Saturday and Sunday, was inaugurated on Friday. One of the major attractions is a photo of the legendary vessel built in 1885 called Vaitarna or popularly known as Vijli because of its electric lights which was a rare sight those days. It capsized on November 8, 1888, drowning 1,300 people". epaper.timesofindia.com. 20 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ Vashi, Ashish (6 May 2010). "Gujarat saw a Titanic in 1888". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "ગુજરાતની ટાઈટેનિક એટલે 'હાજી કાસમની વીજળી (Vijli was the Titanic of Gujarat)". m.divyabhaskar.co.in (in Gujarati). 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "Vaitarna bridge claims fourth life this year". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
19°42′N 72°56′E / 19.700°N 72.933°E