Heavy rain lashes Nagpur; schools shut, rescue operations underway as flash flood threat looms large

Nagpur district has experienced continuous heavy rain for three days, particularly in the past 24 hours, which has led to rescue operations, road closures, and precautionary school closures.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the rain situation Wednesday, holding a meeting with the district collector, Nagpur municipal commissioner and commissioner of police. Officials said the situation is under control for now, but teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) remain on standby. CM Fadnavis also urged citizens to remain cautious and strictly follow safety protocols.

Among the worst-affected locations is Kuhi, which received 222.2 mm of rainfall. Bhiwapur recorded 192.1 mm, followed by Umred with 180.1 mm. Over 124.8mm of rainfall hit Nagpur within a short period of time from 11.30 pm Tuesday to 8.30 am Wednesday, while other areas like Hingna, Kamptee, and Ramtek also saw more than 150 mm. In total, 76 revenue circles across the district were hit by heavy rainfall, bringing much of daily life to a standstill.

Rescue teams have already responded to emergencies across multiple locations. In Nagpur’s rural areas, nine persons were rescued from waterlogged homes in Vihirgaon and Hudkeshwar by the Mihan Fire Brigade. In Kamptee’s Pandhurna village, eight individuals were evacuated to safety by the local rescue team.

SDRF personnel were on their way to Pawangaon on Wednesday morning. Later, nearly 12 stranded people were rescued from rising waters. Meanwhile, NDRF teams are being deployed to Tekepar village in Kuhi tehsil. One flood-related death has also been reported from Kalmeshwar.

Flooding has also damaged or submerged at least 23 roads and bridges across the district, severely impacting connectivity and transportation, particularly in low-lying and rural areas.

Rising water levels are further complicating the situation in several reservoirs. At the Lower Wainganga Dam, all 21 gates were opened at 8.45 am to release a controlled discharge of 775.20 cusecs into the river, as the dam’s storage reached 42.88 per cent. All five gates of Wadgaon Dam were opened by 25 cm at 8 am, discharging over 393 cusecs of water into the downstream system.

The district control room received over 140 complaints related to the monsoon. Of these, 57 were registered through the toll-free helpline (155304), 55 were logged via the mobile app, and 28 through the official website. Authorities have urged the public to avoid waterlogged areas, limit travel, and stay tuned to verified government advisories as the situation continues to evolve.

138 moved to safety: Collector Dr Vipin Itankar

Over 138 people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas in Nagpur to safe locations by Wednesday evening, District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar said.

Kartik Shivshankar Ladpe, an 18-year-old youth from Uppalwadi, got swept away in a Nala current. Anil Hanuman Panpatte, a 35-year-old from Borgaon in Kalmeshwar taluka, also swept away in a Nala current, and a search operation is underway for him. Due to heavy rains in Kamptee, Nagpur, Narkhed, Saoner, Ramtek, Parsivni, Bhiwapur, Umred, and Kuhi talukas, 11 animals have died so far. Nearly 453 homes have been partially damaged while four homes have been completely damaged. Collector Dr Vipin Itankar has appealed to people not to step out of their homes unless necessary.

The 138 rescued people are from Kamptee, Nagpur Rural, Nagpur City and Kuhi talukas. In Kamptee taluka, 8 persons from Pandhurna were rescued by local teams. Nearly 35 people from Pawangaon, two from Powari, and 17 from Parsodi were rescued by the SDRF team. All rescued people have been provided temporary shelter in Zilla Parishad schools. In Nagpur Rural taluka, 9 persons from Hudkeshwar Nagar, 10 from Vihirgaon, and 28 from Narsala were moved to safe places by MIHAN and NMC fire brigade teams. In Nagpur city, 18 people from Kalmana-Ekta Nagar, Pardi, and seven from Bharatwada Navkanya Nagar were rescued and moved to safety by the NMC fire brigade. Four from Tekepar village in Kuhi taluka were rescued with the help of NDRF. Water entered 246 homes in rural areas of Nagpur.

Collector Dr Itankar stated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule have given necessary instructions to the district administration. The CM has also instructed to seek help from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the military if needed.

Collector Dr Vipin Itankar has appealed to people not to leave their homes unnecessarily. Considering the weather department’s forecast of more rain, all necessary precautions are being taken.