The Dharashiv district has borne the brunt of the destruction. More than 750 houses have been damaged, crops on over 33,000 hectares destroyed, and 159 villages impacted. Floodwaters also killed 186 livestock. Rescue efforts involved the deployment of boats and helicopters, with 27 people rescued by the NDRF and 200 shifted to safer locations
The rains have claimed eight lives across the Marathwada region. REPRESENTATIONAL FILE PIC
At least eight people have died and hundreds of homes have been damaged as heavy rains battered Maharashtra’s Marathwada region over the past four days. In what is typically a drought-prone area, relentless downpours since September 20 have caused severe flooding, infrastructure damage, and large-scale crop loss, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the news agency PTI, the Dharashiv district has borne the brunt of the destruction. More than 750 houses have been damaged, crops on over 33,000 hectares destroyed, and 159 villages impacted. Floodwaters also killed 186 livestock.
Rescue efforts involved the deployment of boats and helicopters, with 27 people rescued by the NDRF and 200 shifted to safer locations.
The rains have claimed eight lives across the region, including three in Latur, two in Beed, and one each in Dharashiv, Nanded, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Causes of death included drowning, lightning strikes, and other rain-related accidents, according to the state revenue department.
As per the PTI, infrastructure has also taken a hit. Two schools and a road were damaged in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, while three bridges were affected in Jalna and Beed districts. Five small dams in Marathwada have sustained damage due to flooding. Catchment areas of the Jayakwadi and Majalgaon dams received intense rainfall, prompting authorities to begin discharging excess water.
Several areas, including Javlala and Ramoda, recorded 160 mm and 120 mm of rain, respectively, since Monday night. The Godavari river swelled due to excessive inflow, creating flood-like conditions in villages across Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, and Beed districts. In the last 24 hours, 129 revenue circles have reported rainfall above 65 mm, with Therla in Beed topping the chart at 158.25 mm.
The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, reviewed the flood situation in Mumbai on Tuesday, as per the PTI. The CM assured that relief efforts are underway and announced that he would personally visit the affected areas on Wednesday. Guardian ministers have been directed to oversee relief operations in their respective districts.
The Chief Minister said Rs 2,215 crore in aid has been sanctioned for flood-hit farmers. Of this, Rs 1,800 crore has already been released to district administrations, and the remaining funds will be deposited into farmers’ accounts within 8–10 days. So far, over 31.64 lakh farmers have received compensation following crop damage assessments (panchnamas).
According to PTI, senior NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar urged the state government to speed up compensation and relief distribution, particularly for farmers who have suffered heavy crop losses due to the excessive rainfall and flooding.
The Marathwada region has received 823.8 mm of rain since June 1, marking a 28.5 per cent increase over the seasonal average of 640.8 mm. Dharashiv alone has recorded 833.5 mm, which is 148.8 per cent of its average rainfall for the period. Over the past five days, 975 mm of rainfall was recorded, 102 per cent of the region’s typical seasonal average.
As rescue operations continue in affected districts, authorities remain on high alert. With more rain expected, the focus is now on rapid damage assessment, financial assistance, and rehabilitation of displaced families.
(With inputs from PTI)
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