Chandrapur/Amravati/Yavatmal: Widespread heavy rainfall continued to lash Vidarbha on Thursday, disrupting normal life across several districts, claiming one life in Chandrapur and triggering rescue operations in Gadchiroli, while authorities remained on alert amid forecasts of more rain.Gadchiroli recorded the highest average rainfall in the region at 149mm in the 24 hours ending Thursday morning, followed by Chandrapur (122mm), Wardha (88mm), Yavatmal (76mm) and Amravati (37mm).Chandrapur district bore the brunt of the active monsoon spell, prompting the administration to declare a second consecutive holiday for schools and colleges. Heavy overnight rain inundated low-lying areas and disrupted traffic, while Ballarpur (178.3mm), Gondpipri (122.3mm), Brahmapuri (103.4mm) and Rajura (100.9mm) recorded exceptionally heavy rainfall.The district also reported the region’s lone rain-related fatality after 19-year-old BA student Suhas Jayendranath Kale was killed by lightning while grazing cattle in Chimur taluka.Gadchiroli district remained among the worst affected, with several villages cut off by floodwaters. In a rescue operation, the district administration and SDRF evacuated three stranded residents from Kumbhi village. Those rescued included a youth who had to join his new bank job in Rajasthan, a student travelling to Nagpur for an examination, and a patient requiring medical treatment. Boats were deployed after roads became inaccessible due to flooding. As many as 700 persons were rescued from Bhamragarh Tehsil. No casualties have been reported. Bhamragarh Tehsil got as much as 200 mm of rain in the last 24 hours. As many as 24 roads in the district were cut off.Wardha district too received widespread rainfall, contributing to the active monsoon conditions prevailing across central Vidarbha.In Yavatmal, waterlogging affected roads, while swollen rivers and streams disrupted movement in rural areas.The fresh spell brought much-needed relief to Amravati farmers by improving soil moisture and raising reservoir storage, with live storage in the district’s reservoirs climbing to nearly 44%. However, heavy showers also caused waterlogging in parts of Amravati city and led to fruit drop in orange orchards in Morshi.With the depression moving across Vidarbha, widespread rainfall is expected to continue over the region during the next 24 hours.
