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On Sunday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reassured the public that the state government is fully prepared to tackle the challenges caused by the ongoing heavy rains.
Regrettably, the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra has witnessed devastating rain-related incidents over the past 10 days, resulting in the tragic loss of 16 lives. The heavy downpour has also caused extensive damage to properties, affecting nearly 4,500 houses in the area.
The agricultural sector has been significantly impacted, with approximately 54,000 hectares of farmland suffering from the floods. Among the divisions, the Amravati division has been particularly affected, with over 53,000 hectares of agricultural land damaged. Prompt action by authorities has led to the relocation of 2,796 people from the region to safer areas, mainly in Yavatmal district.
The Vidarbha region is divided into two districts: Amravati and Nagpur. Tragically, the Nagpur division has reported fatalities in different districts, with three deaths each in Gadchiroli and Bhandara, two each in Wardha and Gondia, and one in Chandrapur since July 13.
On a single day, July 21, the Amravati division reported four deaths, with Yavatmal being the worst affected, accounting for three fatalities, followed by one death each in Akola and Buldhana.
During the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am on Sunday, Akola experienced the highest rainfall, recording 107.9 mm. Yavatmal, Wardha, and Amravati also received substantial rainfall during this period.
To address the situation, State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Anil Patil visited Yavatmal to assess the conditions and offered financial assistance to the families of the deceased. Efforts are underway to distribute food grains and provide financial aid to families affected by the floods in the district.
Tragic incidents continue to unfold, with reports of people being swept away by flooding in various areas, and houses collapsing due to the heavy rains. Both agricultural land and animals have been severely affected, exacerbating the overall disaster.
Rescue operations have been carried out successfully, leading to the safe retrieval of stranded individuals. However, the situation remains challenging, with weather authorities predicting the possibility of more heavy rains in certain regions.
Deputy CM Fadnavis highlighted that some parts of the state have received rainfall equivalent to 15 to 20 days’ worth in just two to three days. The administration is closely monitoring weather alerts, and response teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), are being rapidly deployed to address emergencies as they arise.
