8 persons, including 7 CRPF personnel, swept away in flood waters

Nanded, Maharashtra, Aug 5 (UNI) Eight persons, including seven Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, were swept away in flood waters with the Godavari river flowing above the danger mark.

The seven CRPF personnel were engaged in rescue operations at Isli village in Mudkhed tehsil of this district. Another person was swept away at Mendhada nallah near here, district collector Radheshyam Mopalwar told UNI.

''The incident occurred around 1830 hrs when the CRPF personnel reached Isli from Mudkhed for carrying out rescue operations,'' Mr Mopalwar said.

The Army, meanwhile, has already been called in Nanded to assist the district administration. Communication was cut off in 27 villages following the worsened flood situation in the district. The water level in the Godavari surpassed the danger mark of 355 metres and is flowing one metre above it, official sources said.

Mr Mopalwar said that besides the Army, the district administration has also sought two Indian Air Force helicopters and they were expected to reach Nanded soon.

The district administration has so far shifted about 6,000 people from various low-lying areas in the district and have also rescued several people from flooded villages.

According to sources, apart from Godavari, the other small rivers in the district such as Penganga, Sisa, Asna, and Manar are also in spate.

Mahur is the worst affected tehsil in the district, which has recorded highest rainfall of 187 mm in last 24 hours.

As per the rainfall figures, Mahur tehsil of the district has recorded highest rainfall of 187 mm followed by Bhokar 156 mm, Hadgaon 147 mm, Kindwat 144 mm, Nanded 123 mm, Mudkhed 120 mm, Biloli 105 mm, Dharmabad 95 and Ardhapur 90 mm respectively.

The district has recorded an average rainfall of 133 per cent till today since beginning of the monsoon this year.

Meanwhile, the South Central Railways has terminated the Jaipur Purna Express at Akola and Purna Jaipur Express at Nandapur.

The SCR has also cancelled few of its passenger services due to the flood situation, SCR sources said.

UNI XR-MPJ MAZ SBA RK2226