INDIA. Mumbai: Normal life was thrown out of gear when heavy rains battered Nagpur and adjoining areas of Maharashtra, with heavy floods affecting Nagpur, Kamptee and other areas, even as nearly 140 people were rescued from water-logged areas by disaster relief teams on Saturday.
Nagpur received 106 mm rain in the 24 hours from Friday night till Saturday morning, the Weather Bureau said, adding that a yellow alert has been sounded for the next 3-4 days in Vidarbha, North Maharashtra and North Marathwada, where the rains accompanied by lightening are anticipated.
The Indian Army relief teams rescued 140 people, including 40 physically challenged students, from a school. The Army carried out rescue operations in Ambazari, Sitabuldi, Mor Bhawan, Variety Chowk and other flooded areas. In addition, two teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) have been stationed in the area to meet any eventuality.
Indian Army flood relief columns from Headquarters Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat Sub Area were requisitioned by the District Collector Nagpur on Saturday morning. Two columns of the Indian Army with Engineer equipment and boats were deployed in the area of Ambazari for flood rescue operations.
The Army rescued stranded people and provided them with medical aid. The situation is now under control, an Indian Army spokesman said. However, in view of the evolving flood situation, the Indian Army teams have been put on alert by the Nagpur District Administration, he added.
Several areas were inundated as flood water gushed into houses in low-lying areas. The buses in Mor Bhavan ST bus depot were submerged following heavy deluge. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation has begun relief operations.
The civic administration has appealed to people not to venture out into water-logged areas and avoid walking over submerged bridges. The Ambazari Lake is overflowing, and the civic administration has cautioned people to stay away from the lake.
A team from the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) has been deployed near the lake, a state government spokesman said. In the meanwhile, as heavy rains continued, there were reports of two boys drowning in the Gorewada lake on Saturday morning.
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