Heavy rains in Vidarbha, lightning claims four lives

Nagpur, July 4 (UNI) Normal life was affected as torrential rains continued to lash almost all the districts in the Vidarbha region for the third consecutive day.

At least four people were killed, one in Nagpur and three in Wardha, as lightning struck, according to reports reaching here.

One man was killed and 10 were injured at Mangrul villag e in Umred taluka of Nagpur ditrict while people were struck by lightning in Wardha district. Low-lying areas in Gadchiroli district were inundated and vehicular traffic came to a standstill as the Dina and Jambhiya Gatta river were in full spate.

Communication has also snapped affecting more than 100 villages in the district.

An alert has been sounded in Chandrapur district due to incessant rains. Flood waters entered the houses in old Washim in Yavatmal district. Road communication with more than 12 villages was also affected.

The weather office has forecast heavy rains in yavatmal during the next 24 hours.

Ankur Asutkar Raut, a native of Vithalpur in Samudrapur taluka of Yavatmal district washed away in the floods of Waghadi river last night, the reports said.

The district authorities warned the people living on the banks of the rivers in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Yavatmal, Wardha and other districts to remain alert and advised them to shift to safer places.

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