Torrential rains for last four days wreaked havoc in the second capital of the State. Normal life was thrown out of gear as the city received 222.4 mm rains in last 36 hours overflowing drains and swelling rivers. The citizens were in for trouble on Wednesday as most parts were inundated. As heavy downpour was forecast by the weatherman, the civic administration declared holiday for schools and colleges. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the situation in city on Wednesday. Like every year, the pre-monsoon preparedness of the administration was exposed as under-passes, railway under bridges and roads witnessed water-logging. Commuters, specially those on way to railway station had to face harrowing time due to water-logging on every road leading to Nagpur Railway Station. With more rainfall forecast for the week, the administration is monitoring the situation closely and has urged residents to follow official updates and advisories.

 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Nagpur, Bhandara and Wardha districts. According to the IMD, Vidarbha will witness heavy to very heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms and lightning for next couple of days. As per the IMD’s bulletin, the city recorded 222.4 mm of rain in last 36 hours between 8.30 am on Tuesday and 5.30 pm on Wednesday. With 202.4 mm rainfall in just 24 hours from 8.30 am on Tuesday to 8.30 am on Wednesday, Nagpur witnessed highest 24-hour rainfall in last 10 years in July month. In 2023 and 2024, Nagpur received 164 mm rainfall in July which were the highest as compare to last 10 years. But this year, the rains broke the previous two years’ record.

 

All under-passes including Manish Nagar, Narendra Nagar, Somalwada, Sitabuldi, Lakadganj and other areas were submerged due to heavy rains affected movement of traffic. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has initiated rescue and dewatering efforts in several waterlogged areas. Fire Department of NMC received 40-50 distress calls, and 5-7 trees uprooting calls. The NMC’s City Operation Centre is actively monitoring the situation through CCTV surveillance and handling emergency response calls from citizens. Meanwhile, the IMD has issued an orange alert for Amravati and Yavatmal, and a yellow alert for Akola, Washim, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Bhandara, and Gondia districts in the Vidarbha region for Thursday. Flooding continues to trouble residents in New Narsala, one of the worst-hit areas in Nagpur city. Water has filled up to the waist.

 

Cars have drowned. Water has entered the house. It is the same situation occurs in New Narsala area every year when it rains. Hudkeshwar, Kalamna, Ambazari Layout, Shankar Nagar, Nara, Mankapur, Vaishali Nagar and many other localities witnessed waterlogging after the rains. Many major squares in Nagpur city including Bajaj Nagar, Shankar Nagar, Automotive Square, Mhalgi Nagar Square, Medical Square, Manewada Square, Padole Square, Pratap Nagar Square, Khamla Square etc. witnessed waterlogging which affected the traffic movement for hours. Flooding continues to trouble residents in New Narsala, one of the worst-hit areas in Nagpur city. Water-level was up to the waist. Cars were submerged. Water entered houses. It is the same old story in New Narsala area every year when it rains. Hudkeshwar, Kalamna, Ambazari Layout, Shankar Nagar, Nara, Mankapur, Vaishali Nagar and many other localities witnessed water-logging after the rains.

 

Many major squares in Nagpur city, including Bajaj Nagar, Shankar Nagar, Automotive Square, Mhalgi Nagar Square, Medical Square, Manewada Square, Padole Square, Pratap Nagar Square, Khamla Square, etc. witnessed water-logging, badly hitting traffic movement for hours. NMC launched rescue operations using a raft in the locality, where several homes and vehicles remain under water due to relentless rain. The NMC’s City Operation Centre monitored the affected areas through CCTV cameras and fielded distress calls from the residents. Ambazari Lake, which overflowed in September 2023 and caused flood in Naag River, is yet to reach that level this time. The water level in the lake is still below the overflow point. If it continues to rain at this rate, the lake may overflow this time too. Similarly, Futala Lake on Wednesday almost touched its retaining wall and started overflowing from its overflow point near Vayusena Nagar. Nagpur receive highest 222.4 mm rains in last 36 hours: In last 36 hours, Nagpur received the highest 222.4 mm rainfall. Bhandara received 164 mm rains followed by Brahmapuri (142.8 mm), Wardha (97.2 mm), Yavatmal (96.4 mm), Gondia (68.8 mm), Amravati (63.6 mm), Gadchiroli (63 mm), Chandrapur (52 mm), Akola (16.4 mm), Washim (13.2 mm), and Buldhana (11.2 mm). Whereas, Yavatmal received the highest 58 mm rainfall followed by Nagpur (20 mm), Bhandara (20 mm), Chandrapur (17 mm), Wardha (12 mm), Amravati (9 mm), Brahmapuri (3 mm), Akola (2 mm), Gadchiroli (2 mm), Washim (2 mm), and Gondia (1 mm). Gates of dams opened in district: The continuous rain in Nagpur district for the last four days has increased the chances of threat to reservoirs in the district. Keeping this in mind, the Water Resource Department opened gates of dams on Wednesday morning. The local administration opened the age-old Godbole Gate of Gorewada Dam on Wednesday morning. The height of the dam is 314.45 mt. Due to heavy rains, the water level crossed 315.65 mt mark due to which the gates were opened. Similarly, the Department opened all the 21 gates of Lower Wena-Wadgaon Dam by 50 cms on Wednesday morning. After opening the gates, 775.20 Mcum water has been released from the dam. 

 

 

Many low-lying areas of Nagpur division witnessed flood-like situation due to continuous rainfall for the past three days. Nagpur division saw 95.6 mm rainfall in last 24 hours and overall, in last three days, the division received 263 mm rains. Many rivers, nullahs and canals were overflowing in Nagpur division. In the division, Nagpur district witnessed the highest 139.6 mm rainfall in last 24 hours followed by Bhandara (125.8 mm), Wardha district (103.5 mm), Chandrapur (67.8 mm), Gondia (66.6 mm), and Gadchiroli (47.3 mm). As per the information, 43 talukas of Nagpur division witnessed excess rainfall in the last three days. Among these 43 talukas, 13 are in Nagpur district. Kuhi taluka of Nagpur district witnessed the highest 222.2 mm rainfall. Similarly, Bhiwapur received 192.1 mm rains, Kalmeshwar 186.8 mm, Umred 180.1 mm rains, Nagpur city 170.5 mm, Hingna 158.3 mm, Kamptee 158 mm, Nagpur rural 149.3 mm, Mauda 143.4 mm, Ramtek 139.3 mm, Katol 106 mm, Parseoni 103.9 mm, and Narkhed 87 mm rains.

 

All the seven talukas of Bhandara district received excess rainfall, including Lakhandur (164.7 mm), Paoni (149.7 mm), Bhandara (132.2 mm), Mohadi (85.8 mm), Lakhani (83.6 mm), Tumsar (76.5 mm), and Sakoli (75.2 mm). Sadak Arjuni (120.6 mm), Deori (104.5 mm), and Morgaon Arjuni (89.6 mm) talukas in Gondia district received heavy rainfall in last 24 hours. Similarly, Chimur (151.4 mm), Nagbhid (150.3 mm), Brahmapuri (145.2 mm), Savli (92.8 mm) and Warora (82.4 mm) in Chandrapur district received excess rains. Six talukas of Gadchiroli district, including Wadsa-Desaiganj (133.6 mm), Korchi (82.5 mm), Dhanora (70.5 mm), Armori (92.4 mm), Kurkheda (86.8 mm) and Gadchiroli (76 mm) received excess rains. 

 

 

To handle the flood-like situation in East Vidarbha after heavy rainfall for the last three days, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are geared up to handle the situation, informed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the Lower House during the Monsoon Session of Legislative Assembly in Mumbai on Wednesday. Fadnavis was replying after the question raised by the Opposition leader Nana Padole over the preparedness of the administration to handle flood-like situation in East Vidarbha region. “Due to flood-like situation, few passengers were stuck in a State Transport bus for some time. But they were shifted to a nearby school by the administration. Thereafter, all of them were dropped to their respective destinations,” said Fadnavis in the House. Due to heavy rains, the traffic movement was badly affected on Gadchiroli-Nagpur (Armori) Road. Whereas, the traffic has been diverted to an alternative road for smooth movement of vehicles, he informed the House. He also stated that the administration has released water from Gosikhurd dam after the authorities issued ‘Red Alert’ for citizens. While talking about Nagpur city, Fadnavis said that the administration has started rescue work in some areas where the water-logging took place on Wednesday. He also informed the House that one person was washed away on Tuesday night and the search operation was underway.

 

 

After the heavy rainfall in last three days, the district machinery is in action mode and has shifted 138 citizens to safer parts in the district. The rescue operation was held in Kamptee, Nagpur Rural, Nagpur City, and Kuhi talukas. In Kamptee, eight citizens who were stranded after heavy rainfall, were rescued by local rescue team. Similarly, 35 persons were rescued from Pawangaon, 17 persons from Parsodi and 2 from Powari areas by SDRF teams. All the rescued ones were shifted to Zilla Parishad schools. In Nagpur Rural, 9 persons were rescued from Hudkeshwar area, 10 from Vihirgaon, and 28 from Narsala areas and the rescue work was carried out by Fire and Emergency Department teams from MIHAN and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). In Nagpur city, 18 persons were rescued from Kalamna, and 7 were rescued from Bharatwada area by NMC Fire Department teams. 

 

 

In a stark reminder of nature’s raw power, torrential rainfall on Wednesday led to rivers breaching their banks and disrupting key road connectivity across Nagpur division. The Wainganga river has crossed the danger mark in Bhandara district, following heavy rains since Saturday in Nagpur division. Life in the district has come to a halt as water gushed through low-lying areas in rural and urban areas. Forty-three routes have been closed due to rainwater submerging roads and bridges. Similarly, in Nagpur rural, the Chandrabhaga River near Brahmapuri village and the Kolar River near Patansaongi were overflowing, flooding bridges on the Dhapewada–Patansaongi state highway. Images from the site reveal a swollen, fast-moving current engulfing the roads, turning bridges into extensions of the rivers themselves. With water flowing dangerously over both river bridges, authorities have immediately suspended traffic in both directions, leaving several villages temporarily cut off. Local administration has issued alerts, urging motorists to avoid the route and seek safer alternatives. Residents in nearby low-lying areas have also been asked to remain on high alert as water levels continue to rise due to upstream inflows. This critical route, often used for commuting and goods transportation between Hingna and Kalmeshwar talukas, now lies submerged. 

 

 

The two major lakes of the city — Ambazari and Gorewada — are nearing their overflow point as incessant rains since start of the month of July has filled both the dams. On Tuesday night the water level at Ambazari Lake was 314.05 meter against overflow level that is 316.20 meters which it reached after heavy rains on Wednesday. At Gorewada Lake, the level had reached 311.90 meters while water flows over the dam at 315.65 metres and on Wednesday the level was 314.75 meter. Given the rainfall throughout the day on Tuesday and Wednesday, the two lakes are now filled to brim. Another big downpour and two lakes would start overflowing. But at Ambazari since the work to install radial gates is on, the water is being drained out through a channel to avoid spill over from the dam. At Gorewada however the Godbole gates would automatically open-up to drain out water in case the overflow level is reached. 

 

 

Continuous heavy rains for last two days stretched the Fire and Emergency Services machinery of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) beyond its limits. In last 48 hours, the fire brigade units attended 68 distress calls, mostly relating to either water gushing in houses or about fallen trees. The shortage of manpower with Fire Brigade had a telling effect as the Control Room was flooded with SoS calls. Calls about flooding was received from Jagnade Square, Somalwada, Omkar Nagar, near Al Zam-Zam, Chota Tajbagh, Dipti Signal, Raj Nagar, Friends Colony, Balaji Plot Scheme, Kawrapeth (Shanti Nagar), near Hislop College, Mankapur (near Ayyapa Temple), Wanjra Layout, Sonegaon. behind Navratra Hospital, near Kanji House Square. The writing was on the wall as administration had ignored warnings of raising the heights of road during laying of concrete roads. In aftermath of heavy downpour, the drainage system is unlikely to cope -up with the need as they have limited capacity. For citizens in whose homes the dirty water gushed in the memories are likely to remain forever etched in their memory. This is so the smells lingering for a longer time while water recedes post stopping of rainfall.