At least 10 people died in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra due to heavy rains and floods as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next two days in Mumbai, Konkan and parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha.
“The depression over Telangana and adjoining areas of Marathwada & Vidarbha moved west-northwestwards and weakened into a well-marked low pressure area over the western parts of Vidarbha & neighbourhood. It is likely to move northwest wards and weaken further during the next 24 hours,” said the IMD on Twitter.
The IMD predicted very heavy rainfall in central Maharashtra, north Konkan and heavy rainfall at isolated places over Marathwada on Wednesday. On Tuesday, large parts of the State, including Mumbai and adjoining parts, received incessant rains leading to flood like situation in many districts.
Showers destroy crops
The Marathwada region, comprising Aurangabad, Latur, Osmanabad, Parbhani, Nanded, Beed, Jalna and Hingoli districts received heavy showers destroying crops. Gates of various dams had to be opened leading to flooding in villages on the banks of the Manjra river in Beed and Latur districts.
According to the divisional commissioner’s office, three people died in Beed, two in Osmanabad and Parbhani and one each in Latur, Jalna and Nanded. Beed’s guardian minister Dhananjay Munde said he had discussed the flood situation in Beed on Monday night itself with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
“There have been repeated instances of heavy rainfall in the last fortnight. At many places, crops are destroyed while at a few places even the soil is eroded. I will be personally following the issue of complete compensation for farmers,” he said.
Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Vadettiwar said a war room has been set up at the divisional commissionerate and a nodal officer for each district has been appointed. “We are keeping a watch on the situation to ensure minimum damage,” he said.
