Nagpur: At least four people, including three children, died and three others were swept away in different parts of Vidarbha as swollen rivers, and dam discharges disrupted life on Saturday. As many as 176 people were evacuated in Chandrapur, while nearly 3,044 hectares of crops were damaged in Yavatmal.Three children drowned in Sati river at Khedgaon village in Gadchiroli’s Kurkheda taluka on Saturday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Laxman Sunher Dudhakwar (6), Kunal Naresh Dudhakwar (5) and Kohit Yuvraj Sarate (11). A fourth child accompanying them survived and alerted villagers.In Buldhana, 70-year-old Sarubai Panhalde, a resident of Shegaon, died after being crushed under a collapsed wall of her house. Mahadev Waghote from Jalgaon Jamod, Suresh Babar, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, and Hanumanram Tasampure from Sangrampur were reportedly swept away in floodwaters in Buldhana district.All 13 talukas of Buldhana recorded heavy rainfall, with Jalgaon Jamod battered by 228mm rain, while Nandura received about 174mm. Swollen Purna river inundated agricultural fields, damaging soyabean, cotton, and other standing kharif crops.In Chandrapur, rising levels of Irai and Wardha rivers flooded residential areas. A total of 176 people were shifted from vulnerable areas, including residents of Rahmat Nagar, Chorala bridge area, and Mouza Arwat.Yavatmal’s Babulgaon and Digras talukas suffered extensive agricultural losses following overnight rain. Preliminary assessments indicated that crops over nearly 3,044 hectares were damaged. Nearly 30 villages in Babulgaon taluka were affected after all 20 gates of Bembla dam were opened around 4am.Akola district received an average of 74.6mm rainfall in 24 hours. Patur recorded the highest rainfall at 92mm, followed by Balapur at 82.4mm. Morna and Nirguna rivers swelled, disrupting traffic and flooding low-lying areas. Twenty-four houses were damaged across Akot, Telhara, Barshitakli, Murtizapur and Patur. Rainwater entered a zilla parishad school and weekly market premises at Malegaon Bazaar.
