Army called to assist in rescue and relief operations in Bhandara

Nagpur, Aug 15 (UNI) The flood situation in Bhandara district of Vidarbha region further worsened today and the army has been called to assist in relief and rescue operations.

Nagpur Divisional Commissioner Anand Limaye said water had entered some parts of Bhandara town, including its water purification plant. Some areas of the town were being supplied drinking water by tankers, he said.

Incessant rains in the region and release of water from various dams in the region have led to an increase in the water level of the Wainganga river, causing floods in Gondia, Bhandara and Nagpur districts, he said.

Mr Limaye said 104 villages in Bhandara and Gondia districts had been marooned because of the floods, affecting nearly 24,500 people.

The floods have affected 13,000 people from 43 villages in Bhandara district and 11,500 people from 61 villages in Gondia district.

About 10,000 people in Bhandara district have been shifted to relief camps, he added.

In Nagpur district, 23 villages were affected by the floods, and 900 families have been shifted to safer places. The floods have claimed four lives in the districts, while five others were reported missing, the Divisional Commissioner added.

The administration has been put on alert in Gadchiroli district after water level of Kathani river increased due to the heavy rains.

Traffic on several roads in the district, including Gadchiroli-Armori, Gadchiroli-Ashti and Gadchiroli-Nagpur, have come to a standstill, he said.

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