Heavy rains claim 25 lives in Chandrapur this monsoon

At least 25 people have died and around 28,000 families displaced following incessant rains in the industrial district of Chandrapur in the past fortnight.

At least 25 people have died and around 28,000 families displaced following incessant rains in the industrial district of Chandrapur in the past fortnight.

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According to reports reaching Nagpur on Tuesday evening, heavy downpour continued to lash Chandrapur city on Tuesday leaving the city flooded. The citizens blamed the administration for not taking adequate relief measures for the flood-hit people.

The anger of the locals could be gauged from the fact that when district guardian minister Sanjay Deotale along with district officials visited Sister Colony to inspect the flood-hit area on Sunday, the angry residents pelted stones at them. However, no one was injured in the incident. The police resorted to lathi charge and arrested seven people in this regard.

The locals alleged that Deotale ignored their area despite the area flooding 4 times in the last fortnight.

On the other hand, the district administration, claimed that the relief works were on war-footing and there is every chance that water level might raise further after water was released from upper and lower Wardha irrigation projects in Amravati district into Wardha river. "The area is put on high alert and appropriate measures were adopted for the safety of locals," said district collector Deepak Mahisekar.

The heavy rains have destroyed over 50% crops in the district and normal life has been paralyzed in almost all the tahsils of the region. The district received an average rainfall of 1375.6 mm rainfall this monsoon so far.

Water is being released into Wainganga river from Goshikhurd irrigation project in Bhandara district. Similarly, water is being released from Isapur project in Yavatmal district into Painganga river. All the rivers are overflowing leading to a rise in water level in Irai river that flows on the borders of Chandrapur city and its satellite township Ballarpur.

The district administration said that as many as 1,594 houses collapsed following the heavy rains while around 10,000 houses were partially damaged. Around 12,000 families were affected in the flood, of which over 4,000 families were shifted to safer places.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had visited the district last week and announced Rs 2.5 lakh compensation to the families of flood victims, who were killed in the ongoing downpour.

Meanwhile, heavy rains since Monday threw the normal life out of gear in Nagpur city and its neighbouring districts in the region. The regional meteorological department here has predicted heavy rains at many places in the region in next 24 hours.