Torrential Rains Flood Latur and Nanded, Army Deployed
Heavy rainfall floods Maharashtra, prompts school closures, Army aid.
Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in Maharashtra’s Latur and Nanded districts, submerging roads, bridges, and villages, and forcing the administration to declare school holidays and deploy Army units for rescue operations. The relentless downpour, which triggered a yellow alert from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has disrupted daily life, with 29 of Latur’s 60 revenue circles reporting excessive rainfall by Thursday night.
Rising river and stream levels have led to the closure of approximately 50 roads and bridges, including key routes like the Nilanga-Udgir-Dhanegaon stretch of State Highway 238 and a bridge on the Manjara River near Shiur. In Nilanga taluka’s Shelgi village, a lightning strike killed five bovine animals, while flooding stranded vehicles and forced detours, such as the Tagarkheda-Aurad route via Halse-Tambarwadi-Halgara.
Rescue efforts have been swift, with disaster management teams, local villagers, and Army units saving lives across the region. In Shirur Anantpal, five people trapped in a riverside shed and three laborers stuck during bridge construction on the Gharni River were rescued. In Ahmedpur’s Kalegaon, one person was saved from a reservoir spillway, and in Makni village, a man swept away by floodwaters was hospitalized with minor injuries. Additionally, 679 students and 40 teachers stranded at a waterlogged Kendriya Vidyalaya in Chakur’s BSF camp were safely evacuated by BSF jawans.
Also Read: Floods Devastate Nanded, Villages Isolated
Nanded faced severe flooding, with the Barul circle recording 275 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, followed by 267 mm in Tuppa and Taroda. Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile warned residents in low-lying areas near the overflowing Vishnupuri dam to relocate, as water inundated villages. The Manajara dam began discharging 10,482 cusecs of water after lifting its gates, exacerbating flood risks. Kardile confirmed that Army, SDRF, and civic teams are on high alert to assist affected communities.
Marathwada’s 130 revenue circles, including 68 in Nanded and 35 in Latur, reported excess rainfall (above 65 mm daily). Eleven major irrigation projects in the region are at 93.72% capacity, a sharp rise from last year’s 56.63%. With schools closed for Classes 1 to 12 and more rain forecast, authorities are bracing for further challenges as rescue and relief operations continue.
