250 people stranded, 7 killed in rain related incidents in Maharashtra

Mumbai: A cloudburst-triggered heavy rainfall led to flooding in Mukhed in Nanded district stranding over 250 people even as half a dozen rain-related deaths were reported in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra on Monday.

In Mukhed, the Indian Army is assisting the civil authorities. In Marathwada, three rain-related deaths were reported from Nanded while two died in Beed and one in Hingoli. In Vidarbha, one death was reported from Akola.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan reviewed the situation in Mumbai.

“There has been a significant rise in the water level of Lendi dam, an inter state irrigation project between Maharashtra and Telangana, located in the taluka, more than 600 kilometres from here, while large amount of water is flowing into the area from Latur, Udgir and neighbouring Karnataka state,” Fadnavis told reporters adding that the state government was in touch with their counterparts in the two neighbouring states.

“On Sunday, the rainfall here was approximately 206 mm. As a result, daily life in Ravangaon, Bhaswadi, Bhingeli, and Hasnal has been affected. In Ravangaon, in the Mukhed taluka, 225 persons are trapped in floodwaters, those in extremely adverse conditions have been evacuated. Efforts are underway to relocate the remaining citizens to safer locations,” he said, adding that at least five people are reported missing.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-based Divisional Commissioner Jitendra Papalkar, who oversees the Marathwada division, confirmed six deaths in Marathwada.

A total of 205 animals have died (large dairy farmers-69, small dairy farmers-102, large haulers-28, small haulers-06).

As many as 486 partial collapse of dwellings and walls were reported, reports reaching here said. The worst-affected district in Marathwada was the Nanded district.

"One NDRF team, one Army unit, and a police team are working in coordination for the rescue efforts. An Army unit from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has also been dispatched. The local administration has been instructed to stay in the affected areas and coordinate continuously," the CM said after the review at the Mantralaya Control Room during which he spoke to the Divisional Commissioners and District Collectors.

Across Maharashtra, nearly 4 lakh hectares of crops are under water.

On the overall situation, the CM said, “Maharashtra has experienced heavy rainfall over the past two days. Several districts are under red and orange alerts, and by August 21, more districts will face similar alerts. We discussed necessary precautionary measures.”