Trustees of the Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan on Tuesday appealed to devotees to avoid travelling to Alandi in Pune district for the annual ceremony scheduled on July 8 due to severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall. The trustees requested devotees to join the procession at a later halt once weather conditions improve. They said the departure ceremony will be held with only a limited number of participants as a precautionary measure. The decision was taken during a meeting of the trustees after reviewing the flood situation in Alandi, where the Indrayani river has crossed the danger mark following continuous rainfall across Maharashtra. Authorities shift people to safer locations Every year, lakhs of devotees participate in the annual pilgrimage from Alandi and Dehu to Lord Vitthal’s temple in Pandharpur town of Solapur district ahead of Ashadhi Ekadashi. However, the ongoing flood situation has severely affected arrangements this year. On Monday, devotees staying on temple premises and accommodation facilities in Alandi were shifted to safer locations after the water level of the Indrayani river increased. Authorities also …