Torrential rains have unleashed widespread flooding across Maharashtra’s Nanded district, leaving over 200 residents stranded in villages like Ravangaon, Hasnal, Bhaswadi, and Bhigeli in Mukhed taluka. The Indian Army has been deployed to spearhead rescue operations, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Marathwada, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall through Tuesday.

Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile confirmed the deployment of a 15-member Army unit from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to assist in Mukhed, where a cloudburst caused severe inundation. “We’ve rescued 21 people from Ravangaon and Hasnal via the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Sunday, but many remain trapped,” Kardile told PTI. He has coordinated with Telangana’s irrigation department to manage water releases from the Pochampad Dam to mitigate downstream flooding.

The deluge, which saw Markhel circle record 154.75 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, has submerged homes, collapsed roofs, and washed away critical infrastructure, including a bridge connecting Berli village. The Isapur Dam’s gates were opened, exacerbating flooding in low-lying areas. Over 65 mm of rain was recorded across 80 revenue circles in Nanded, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, and Parbhani, with transport links severed on routes like Udgir-Deglur due to overflowing bridges.

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The Army, alongside SDRF, Rapid Action Force, and local teams, is racing against time to evacuate stranded residents, with helicopters on standby for aerial support. Kardile noted potential reinforcement from Latur teams if flooding worsens in Hadgaon, Himayatnagar, and Kinwat. Villages along the Godavari basin are on high alert, with warnings issued against crossing flooded bridges.

Social media posts on X highlight local frustration, with users sharing videos of submerged roads and criticizing delayed infrastructure upgrades. The crisis follows deadly floods in Nanded last week, which claimed three lives and isolated multiple villages.

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