Situation grim in Vidarbha, 5000 people shifted in Chandrapur
Nagpur, Aug 7 (UNI) Over 5000 people in Vidarbha region's Chandrapur district were shifted to safer places as rivers in the district started overflowing due to incessant rains that has been lashing the region since the last four days.
Officials sources said 850 villagers from Kolashi village on the banks of the Wardha river were evacuated while 2,360 people from Chandrapur city were also shifted to higher reaches after irrigation authorities were forced to open the gates of the Irai dam to release excess water. Likewise, 2000 villagers from Ballarpur, Kolgaon, Rajura, Shasti, Vanoja, Antargaon, Devada, Pardi, and Sangold also had to be moved to safer places after flood waters entered these villages.
Four boats from Nagpur and one from Gadchiroli were pressed into service in Chandrapur for relief and rescue operations.
In Yavatmal district, the water levels in the Arunawai and Addan rivers have increased considerably and eleven gates of the Arunawai dam and five of the Addan dam had to opened.
In Gadchiroli district, residents of Sironcha taluka have been advised to shift to safer places as water level of the Godavari river was rising.
Over 80 villages in Buldhana district have been engulfed in the flood waters and four persons were reported missing from Chikhali and Mehkar talukas.
Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Akola, and Amravati districts in the region have also been badly affected. About 126 mm rains were recorded in these districts yesterday and the meteorological department has forecast more heavy rains in the next 24 hours.
Nagpur divisional commissioner Anand Limaye, meanwhile, said the administration has geared up and intensified rescue and relief operations and the affected people are being provided with food and other amenities.
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