Heavy rains for the last three days has claimed 70 lives in the state and prompted authorities to evacuate over 100,000 people.
MUMBAI: Heavy rains in Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra for the last three days has claimed 70 lives and prompted authorities to evacuate over 100,000 people from low-lying areas, and declare a high alert in many villages there, official sources said here on Tuesday.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil is scheduled to visit the flood affected areas in the state on Wednesday, they said.
Over 200,000 of cusecs water has been released from the Jaikwadi dam in Aurangabad district for the last 36 hours after the dam filled to over 90 per cent of its capacity, sources said.
This has prompted the government to declare a high alert in 178 villages in Jalna, Parbhani and Nanded district where the water would pass through, the sources said.
All the 27 gates of the dam were opened to accommodate heavy water outflow, the sources said. A meeting of the state cabinet has been convened here today to discuss the flood situation in the state where it is also expected to provide a relief package for the affected, the sources said.
While the rain fury has subsided in several areas of the state, including Mumbai, the situation in Nanded district of Marathwada continues to be serious, with the Godavari river still flowing a metre above the danger level, they said.
Over 400,000 cusecs of water is being released from the Vishnupuri project near Nanded, sources said.
Army, Navy personnel and Air Force helicopters are assisting in rescue operations in marooned areas. In Nanded, help of five navy divers have been sought to rescue drowned people, the sources said.
The flood situation has slightly improved in Chandrapur district with water receding even as several villages were submerged.
In Yavatmal district, Painganga river was in spate and major roads connecting Hyderabad and Nanded had closed for traffic, official sources said.
In Chandrapur, Wadagaon, Aarwat, Sarwat, Halasti, Pipri, Korchi and Kolshi in Korpana area were still flood-affected. Both the river Wardha and Painganga were in spate but water level had gone down considerably, sources added.
A total of 4,261 persons have so far been shifted to safer places and district administration has opened 28 relief camps.
The Rajura-Adilabad National Highway was closed for vehicular traffic similarly interior road between Gadchandur- Ghughus was closed as the bridge was inundated.
In Yavatmal district, Dhanora and Patan were most affected by the overflowing river Painganga. Yavatmal- Pandharkawada, Pandharkawada-Adilabad and other roads in the district were closed due to flooding.
Services of IAF helicopters which were pressed into service were suspended on Tuesday. A report from Jalgaon said contact was established with 37 villages, which were cut-off due to flooding and water has started receding from rivers Tapi and Girna, Collector of Jalgaon Vijay Kumar Singhal said.
Rivers Tapi and Girna are in spate, Jalgaon-Aurangabad road was closed for vehicular traffic, he said. Four persons have been reported to have been washed away in the flood waters of Tapi.
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