Mumbai, Jul 14: Relief and rehabilitation efforts in Vidarbha region are underway on a war-footing following heavy rains on July 8 and 9, Maharashtra disaster management minister Girish Mahajan said in the assembly on Monday.
The Nagpur and Amravati divisions in the eastern part of the state witnessed torrential rains recently, which caused widespread damage, resulting in the deaths of eight persons as well as damage to houses and crops. Nagpur, Wardha, Gondia, Bhandara, Gadchiroli, and Chandrapur districts witnessed floods.
All administrative machinery has been kept on high alert to ensure assistance reaches affected citizens promptly and transparently, Mahajan said in a statement in the assembly.
As per the government resolution dated May 30, financial assistance has already been disbursed at the district level to those whose houses have collapsed, while the deadline for providing aid such as household utensils and clothing to vendors and small shopkeepers has been extended under a resolution dated July 28, 2023, he added.
District collectors have been granted full authority to take decisions related to disaster relief, Mahajan said, adding that 20,854 hectares of agricultural land were affected and 29,920 farmers have been impacted.
"In Nagpur division, seven persons died, four were injured, while 17 large and 10 small animals perished. A total of 1,927 houses were partially damaged, 40 houses collapsed fully. A total of 209 cattle sheds were damaged. Some 715 people were shifted to safer locations. Damage assessment is currently underway," he said.
In Amravati Division, one death and one injury were reported, 180 houses were partially damaged and nine completely destroyed. The division also witnessed four livestock deaths, damage to 3,411 hectares of farmland, the minister informed the House.
The state government is committed to providing swift compensation and rehabilitation to all affected individuals and families, he said in the assembly.
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