Maharashtra Weather News

Devastating Impact of Heavy Rainfall

Heavy rainfall across Maharashtra has resulted in significant loss of life and widespread damage, with 12 deaths reported due to rain-related incidents. Nanded has been the hardest hit, recording eight deaths—three in the past three days and five on Tuesday. Beed reported two deaths, while Hingoli and Akola each reported one. The relentless rains have affected over 800 villages and destroyed crops across four lakh hectares, severely impacting farmers’ livelihoods. Kharif crops such as soybean, mung, urad, cotton, and bajra have been extensively damaged, with standing water in fields and pest infestations affecting vegetables due to continuous rain and cloudy conditions.

Rescue Operations and Infrastructure Disruptions

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and armed forces have been mobilized, rescuing 293 people from flood-affected villages in Nanded. On the Mudkhed-Udgir road, seven people in an autorickshaw and a car were swept away by floodwaters. Three men were rescued, but the search continues for one man and three women. In Mumbai, a wall collapse claimed one life, while details of two other deaths remain unclear. A monorail train in Mumbai was stranded for an hour due to heavy rain, with passengers safely evacuated using a crane. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to declare holidays for government offices, schools, and colleges and urge private companies to allow work-from-home arrangements. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is closely monitoring the situation, ensuring preventive and relief measures are in place.

Flooding and Agricultural Losses

In Beed, four days of torrential rain have caused rivers and streams to overflow, submerging farmland and destroying crops that were nearly ready for harvest. Excessive rainfall in 17 revenue circles has led to significant losses of soybean, mung, urad, cotton, and bajra, with waterlogged fields and pest outbreaks compounding farmers’ woes. Farmers have demanded immediate crop damage assessments (panchnamas) and compensation, expressing fears that another four days of rain could wipe out all crops. In Vasai-Virar, two days of relentless rain, continuing on August 19, have caused severe waterlogging, with 3-4 feet of water in low-lying areas, turning roads into rivers and disrupting traffic. Ground floors of some buildings and residential societies have been inundated, causing significant inconvenience to residents and severely impacting daily life.

Dam and Water Management

The Khadkwasla dam chain recorded 95-105 mm of rainfall on Tuesday, filling all four dams in the chain to capacity and necessitating increased water discharge. Khadkwasla dam is releasing 35,310 cusecs of water, with authorities increasing discharge as needed due to rising water levels in the dam catchment area. The Mutha River is flowing at full capacity, and alerts have been issued for nearby areas. In Ekta Nagari, water has entered several residential societies, flooding basements and parking areas up to waist level. Disaster management teams are evacuating residents, and water discharge may be further increased due to ongoing heavy rainfall. Areas such as Narayan Peth, Vitthalwadi, Pulachiwadi, and Shivajinagar, along with some bridges, are at risk of being affected. The IMD has issued a red alert for Pune, signaling continued severe weather.

Marathwada and Vidarbha Crisis

In Marathwada and West Vidarbha, heavy rainfall has devastated crops, with floodwaters from the Wardha and Painganga rivers inundating farmlands in Chandrapur. Farmers are in distress as near-harvest crops have been destroyed. Vijay Wadettiwar, a political leader, has demanded immediate compensation for affected farmers. The flooding has made it nearly impossible to save crops, threatening the economic stability of farmers in these regions. In Jalgaon, three consecutive days of heavy rain and lightning, ending on Monday, August 18, caused significant damage to crops, homes, and livestock. The extent of the damage has left local communities grappling with the aftermath of this natural disaster.

Tamhini Ghat and Mulshi Dam

The Tamhini Ghat area has experienced relentless rainfall, with 320 mm recorded in 24 hours and a seasonal total of 6,853 mm. Heavy rain in the Mulshi dam area has significantly increased water storage levels, filling the dam to capacity. The increased water levels have bolstered local water conservation efforts but have also heightened flood risks.

Statewide Damage Assessment

Across Maharashtra, 20.12 lakh acres of crops, including soybean, maize, cotton, urad, tur, and mung, have been destroyed. According to the Agriculture Department, heavy rainfall has affected 187 talukas and 654 revenue circles across 19 districts. Nanded suffered the most, with 7.13 lakh acres of crop damage, followed by Washim with 4.11 lakh acres. Other affected districts include Yavatmal (80,969 hectares), Buldhana (74,405 hectares), Akola (43,703 hectares), Solapur (41,472 hectares), and Hingoli (40,000 hectares). Between August 15 and 19, rain-related incidents claimed 21 lives, injured 10 people, and killed 11 animals. Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharne stated that crop damage assessments are underway, and immediate assistance will be provided to farmers. The state government has assured its support for affected farmers.

Additional Impacts in Marathwada

In Marathwada, the past two to three days of heavy rainfall have affected most talukas, with small reservoirs overflowing. Approximately 9 lakh acres of crops have been damaged, affecting 3.58 lakh hectares. Nanded has reported the highest losses, with 11 human deaths and 498 animal deaths. Additionally, 550 houses have collapsed, and 1,154 villages have been affected. After a dry June and July, August’s intense rainfall, including cloudburst-like conditions in some areas, has disrupted daily life and raised concerns about further damage if the rain persists.

Administrative and Political Response

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized that the government is taking all necessary precautions, with NDRF teams deployed in sensitive areas and officials on high alert to mitigate risks. Educational institutions in Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Lonavala have been closed as a precaution, and citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and waterlogged areas. Harshvardhan Sapkal, President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, has demanded that the state declare a “wet drought” due to the excessive rainfall, which has washed away crops across 15 lakh acres in 17 districts, including Marathwada, Vidarbha, Western Maharashtra, North Maharashtra, and Konkan. Affected crops include jowar, bajra, urad, maize, soybean, mung, cotton, tur, fruits, vegetables, and sugarcane. Sapkal has called for immediate compensation of ₹50,000 per hectare and urged the government to prioritize aid for farmers and families affected by loss of life and livestock.

Kalamb Taluka and Farmer Concerns

In Kalamb taluka, heavy rainfall has caused significant crop damage, particularly to soybean fields, as floodwaters from the Manjra, Washira, and Terna rivers inundated farmlands. Farmers had hoped for a good yield due to earlier favorable rains, but the recent deluge has dashed their expectations. The taluka administration has ordered crop damage assessments, but confusion persists as some village-level committees are only assessing areas near riverbanks. Farmers have demanded comprehensive assessments, and MLA Kailas Patil has instructed the administration to address these concerns. Tehsildar Hemant Dhokle has directed revenue circles in Itkur, Kalamb, and Yermala to conduct assessments, and Agriculture Officer Bhagwatrao Sarade has assured that all affected areas will be covered. Farmers have been urged to contact the tehsildar if their areas are overlooked.

Conclusion

The heavy rainfall across Maharashtra has caused widespread devastation, with significant losses to life, crops, and infrastructure. The state government, disaster management forces, and local administrations are working tirelessly to provide relief and conduct damage assessments. Farmers face an uncertain future, with millions of acres of crops destroyed and livelihoods at risk. Immediate compensation and support are critical to help affected communities recover from this natural disaster.

Panchayat Mausam Sewa

Krishi Khabar Sewa

Green Alerts Blog