Heavy rainfall continues to affect central Maharashtra, prompting extensive rescue and relief operations.
Heavy rains have resulted in devastating floods across Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, leading to at least five fatalities and leaving hundreds stranded. The situation has been exacerbated by continuous downpours over the past four days. In response to the crisis, the state Cabinet has approved a relief fund of Rs 2,215 crore aimed at supporting approximately 31.5 lakh farmers impacted by the flooding.
According to reports, over 5.5 lakh acres of farmland have been submerged in the Marathwada area alone within the last 48 hours. The districts most severely affected include Dharashiv, Beed, Solapur, and Ahilyanagar. The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall in central Maharashtra, with predictions extending from Thursday through Monday.
Rescue operations are actively underway across four districts, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reporting the successful rescue of at least 320 individuals in the past 24 hours. In a notable effort, the Army utilized helicopters to airlift 27 stranded individuals from Dharashiv district. Local officials have identified Bhoom and Paranda villages as among the worst hit, with some areas experiencing rainfall exceeding 100 mm over two days.
In light of the ongoing crisis, Shirish Yadav, deputy collector of Dharashiv, indicated that various regions, including Karjat and Jakhed in Ahilyanagar, as well as Ashti and Patoda in Beed district, have also faced significant rainfall. To manage the floodwaters, authorities have initiated the discharge of 70,000 cusecs from local dams.
State Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan characterized the situation as grim, noting that the region has not experienced such intense rainfall in the past 50 to 70 years. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde echoed these sentiments, highlighting the devastating impact on farmers, many of whom have lost their crops, and the substantial damage to homes.
In light of the extensive destruction, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed ministers to visit affected areas to oversee rescue and relief efforts. He emphasized the urgency of ensuring that the relief funds are deposited into farmers’ bank accounts within a ten-day timeframe. However, opposition leaders have called for additional support, with Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar advocating for the state to request aid from the Union government. He expressed concern, stating that the current rainfall levels are unprecedented in Marathwada.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackery) chief Uddhav Thackeray has also urged the Union government to allocate Rs 10,000 crore to assist the state in its recovery efforts. As the situation develops, the community continues to rally for support for those affected by the floods.
