Rain wreak havoc in Nagpur; NDRF, SDRF deployed in flooded areas
City records 109 mm rain between 2 am and 5 am, causing Ambazari lake and Nag River to overflow.
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Waterlogged road at Jhansi Rani square after heavry rains, in Nagpur. (PTI) Overnight torrential rains in Nagpur has wreaked havoc, leading to the death of an elderly women while 400 people had to be relocated to safer places on Saturday.
With flooding in several parts of the city, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed for rescue and relief operations.
All schools and colleges remained closed as the civic administration declared a holiday. An advisory urged people to stay at home and step out only if necessary.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared an orange alert for the next 24 hours in Nagpur.
24-9-2023 Nagpur | स. ९.४५ वा. | २४-९-२०२३नागपूर.
Visited Daga layout and corporation colony, met and interacted with the residents. Visited houses. The is overflowing of Nag river has caused damages. It’s unfortunate. I assured everyone we stand with you in these tough… pic.twitter.com/P5MOtSPri5
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) September 24, 2023
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “There was heavy rain between 2 am and 5 am on Saturday. The rain recorded was more than 109 mm. But within two hours it had crossed 90 mm. As a result it led to flooding in several parts specially in low-lying areas of Nagpur.”
The city’s biggest Ambazari lake was overflowing. Its water flowed into Nag river. Together, the overflowing lake and river water spilled on to roads and into colonies resulting in flooding.
The second capital of Maharashtra was caught unawares. With unprecedented rise in water level the district collector’s and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) offices swung into action. Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur, was closely monitoring the operations.
Four persons, including a 53-year-old paralysed, bedridden woman, died in rain-related incidents, while more than 400 people had to be shifted to safety after flooding was witnessed in Nagpur. (Express photo by Dhananjay Khedkar)
In Mumbai, talking to the media on Saturday, Fadnavis said, “Sensing the seriousness of the situation we immediately deployed two teams of NDRF and SDRF to reach out to people stuck in water in low lying areas. A team of Army was kept ready for any emergency.”
“Till now more than 400 people have been shifted from flooded areas to safe locations. It included 70 students of a school and 50 students of LAD college. All those shifted to temporary shelter have been provided food and basic amenities,” he said.
“Unfortunately, one elderly women died and 14 cattle were swept away in the rain,” he added.
While stating that the water has started receding since late afternoon, Fadnavis said, “The areas which were worst affected due to heavy rains include Ambazari, Shankarnagar, Hajaripahad, Nandanwan and colonies along the banks of Nag river.”
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis visited Nagpur, also his hometown, to take stock of the flood situation. (Express photo by Dhananjay Khedkar)
Since the IMD has issued an orange alert in Nagpur, the district administration has declared all schools and colleges holiday.
With water entering shops and houses it has led to huge losses for families and shopowners. The district authorities have been directed to assess the damage to enable the government to pay compensation.
Fadnavis said, “The state administration is on alert.” He appealed to people not to fall prey to rumours. And if anybody has any difficulty they should seek help from local administration, he added.
State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule along with former city mayor Sandeep Joshi and others were stationed in the city to personally monitor the situation.
Earlier, Nagpur Collector Vipin Itankar and Nagpur Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Chaudhuri visited the flood hit areas to assess the situation. Nagpur Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar along with officials also assisted in the relief and rescue operations.
Fadnavis said, “All the nodal administrative departments were told to activate and reach out to people as reports of waterlogging came to our notice.”
At Mor Bhawan bus stand in Nagpur the water rose unusually higher. In some low-lying areas the water submerged ground-floor of houses. With the weather bureau indicating rain for next 48 hours the administration has been put on alert in Vidarbha region.
According to IMD severe to moderate rain and thunderstorm with lightning is likely to continue in Nagpur, Bhandara and Gondia. It has indicated moderate to light rain in Wardha, Chandrapur, Amravati, Yavatmal and Gadchiroli districts.
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