Floods: Evacuation on in low-lying areas in Vidarbha

MUMBAI: The army is evacuating people from low-lying areas in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region after heavy rains raised water levels in the Vainganga river, officials said on Wednesday.

The death toll in rain-related incidents in the state in the last 12 days has gone up to 340, the sources said.

Except for Bhandara and Gondia districts in Vidarbha where personnel and helicopters are removing people to safety, the flood situation in other parts of the state is under control, they said.

Nearly 260 tehsils and 9,691 villages in 31 districts have been hit by floods, affecting 11.38 lakh people.  Around 4.63 lakh people have been evacuated from various parts of the state this monsoon season, the sources added.

The state government has so far disbursed Rs 18.50 crore among the flood-affected and the distribution of foodgrain and kerosene was in progress, they said.  Meanwhile, over 1.52 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged to the Ukai dam in Gujarat from Prakasha in the state, the sources said.