Five more die due to Maharashtra-rains

Heavy rains continued in Maharashtra for the third successive day on Sunday resulting in five more deaths because of lightning strikes and drowning.

Since Friday, at least 17 people have lost their lives in the state.

On Sunday, two youths who has gone for fishing died in Akola district of Vidarbha region.

Reports reaching from Jalgaon in North Maharashtra said that a 16-year old girl was swept away while crossing a stream while two persons died after being struck by lightning.

The IMD offices in Pune and Mumbai and Skymet Weather, a private forecast agency, has predicted rain for Monday and Tuesday.

The Arabian Sea was choppy and fishermen were asked to refrain from venturing into the sea.

Meanwhile, reports from Palghar, Thane and Raigad said that ploughing of fields and sowing operations have started pace.

Rains also continued in brief intervals in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, however, there was no major impact on normal life on Sunday.

In the last 24 hours, the Mumbai city recorded 150 mm plus rainfall.

There were several reports of trees being uprooted, however, there were no reports of anyone being injured.

In one incident, a tree fell on a couple of empty autorickshaws.