CM to visit flood-affected districts tomorrow

Mumbai, Aug 6 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said he will visit three worst flood-hit districts of Nanded, Hingoli and Buldhana tomorrow to take stock of the relief work.

Mr Deshmukh told mediapersons after a high-level meeting here that eforts were underway to rescue around 30 bus passengers who were stranded near Lonar bridge at Mehkar taluka in Buldhana district since last evening because of the floods.

Eight Army companies and five helicopters have been pressed into service in Nanded, Parbhani and Hingoli districts for search and rescue operations.

He said one lakh people have been evacuated from Nanded and other severely affected areas in the State. The telecommunication links between Nanded-Aurangabad, Nanded-Nagpur and Nanded-Hyderabad have been completely disrupted.

Mr Deshmukh said all district guardian ministers have been asked to remain present in their respective constituencies and oversee the relief operations.

The Godavari river has started flowing three meters above the danger mark of 357 mts because of which 4,000 people have been shifted to safer locations.

With the condition worsning in Nanded, lifeguards from Pune, Kolhapur, Sangli and Jalgaon have been rushed to that district.

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