Nagpur/Amravati: In the last 10 days, Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region has been lashed by heavy rains, resulting in tragic loss of at least 16 lives in rain-related incidents.
Besides, about 4500 houses have been damaged due to continuous rain.
About 54,000 hectares of agricultural land has been affected, of which more than 53,000 hectares are located in Amravati division alone.
03:31
Maharashtra: IAF is working to rescue people trapped in Yavatmal amid heavy rains
In response to the crisis, the state government has been proactively engaged, with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, assuring that they are fully prepared to tackle the challenges posed by excess rains. 2,796 people have been evacuated to safer places due to the situation, primarily in Yavatmal district.
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Houses, roads in Yavatmal are submerged in water due to incessant rain
Among the affected districts, Nagpur division has seen three deaths each in Gadchiroli and Bhandara, two each in Wardha and Gondia and one in Chandrapur since July 13.
The situation has been particularly grim in Amravati division, where four deaths were reported in a single day on July 21, Yavatmal was the worst-hit district, with three deaths reported.
Akola and Buldhana also recorded one death each during this period. The 11 districts of Vidarbha are divided into two divisions namely Amravati and Nagpur.
Nagpur division consists of Nagpur, Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Wardha districts, while Amravati division consists of Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Washim and Buldhana. Some parts of Vidarbha have been receiving heavy rains for the past few days. In the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Sunday, Akola recorded 107.9 mm rainfall, followed by Yavatmal-24.0 mm, Wardha-23.4 mm, Amravati- 15.6 mm, Nagpur-6.7 mm, Gadchiroli-3.0 mm, Chandrapur-2 mm and Chandrapur-2 mm. ldhana-2.0 mm as per Regional Meteorological Center Nagpur. State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Anil Patil visited Yavatmal on Sunday to take stock of the situation. Addressing a press conference there, he said three people died in a rain-related incident in Yavatmal district on July 21 and announced an aid of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each of the deceased.
Patil directed the district administration to immediately distribute food grains and provide Rs 5,000 assistance to over 1,600 flood-affected families in the district.
Two persons were swept away by floods in Akola Ba and Savar villages on Saturday, the district administration said, while the body of one is yet to be recovered. Also, a woman died after her house collapsed in Waghadi village in the district, it said.
A 32-year-old man was swept away in a river in Akola, while a 47-year-old man met a similar fate in Buldhana, officials said.
According to preliminary reports from the Amravati Divisional Commissionerate Office, 53,056 hectares of agricultural land were damaged due to rains and floods on July 21.
A total of 2,882 houses were damaged or damaged due to rains and floods in Amravati division, including 1,432 in Yavatmal, 1,424 in Akola, 14 in Washim and 12 in Amravati. As many as 59 animals died in Amravati division due to lightning and floods, it added.
Monsoon has affected 875.84 hectares of agricultural land in parts of Nagpur division, including 853.74 hectares in Chandrapur and 22.1 hectares in Wardha, a preliminary report issued by the authority said.
In Yavatmal district, around 110 people were rescued from flood-hit Anandnagar Tanda village under Mahagaon tehsil on Saturday. Floodwaters receded in many areas of Yavatmal on Sunday and the intensity of rains also reduced, officials said.
In Buldhana, around 100 people were shifted to a safer place in Katargaon village of Sangrampur tehsil on Saturday. Senior officials said there was no flood in the district on Sunday.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy rain is likely in Amravati district, while cloudy weather may prevail in other parts of Vidarbha.
Yavatmal Collector Amal Yedge said three people died and 1,426 houses were damaged in the district due to rain and floods.
About 280 people have been rescued safely from the flood waters, and 6,275 have been shifted to temporary accommodation and provided with food, the Collector said.
Talking to reporters at Nagpur airport, Deputy CM Fadnavis said that some parts of the state received 15 to 20 days’ average rainfall in just two to three days.
He said weather alerts are being issued to the administrations of regions expecting heavy rains and teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and their state counterpart SDRF are being rapidly deployed as and when required.
(with input from PTI)