Heavy rains claim 24 in Vidarbha

07 September, 2012

Most of district collectors and civil servants instead of providing relief aid are busy in visiting and giving photo sessions to the media. There is an urgent need to provide food and kerosene in these affected villages. No relief operation has been initiated yet. There very heavy causalities related to cattle, and there could develop problems of health and epidemic in these areas, hence the Maharashtra chief minister is urged to visit these affected villages, and pay attention to this crisis.

THE NON-STOP heavy rains have caused widespread damage to life and property and standing crop of cotton, soya and paddy in 40 lakh hectares across Vidarbha - claiming 22 lives over the past 24 hours. While six people drowned in Wardha district, six died in similar incidents in Amravati district, two were killed in a wall collapse in Nagpur, and one person was killed in Chandrapur. In this area, as per recent reports, more than seven lives were lost in Yavatmal and Gondia.

Due to massive flooding, there were two farmers suicides in Yavatmal district in village Dharana and Both Bodan due to crop damage in this heavy rain. More human causalities are likely to be reported in remote parts of Gadchiroli, Amaravati and Washim, Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press release.

“It is reported six persons had died in a wall collapse in Kaundinyapur in Amravati district on Monday. A water reservoir embankment gave way near Arvi town in Wardha district, drowning two persons and also sweeping away several cattle heads. Many had to be shifted to safer places. Two persons were killed in two wall collapse incidents in the district and another person was swept away by flood waters in Kapsi village. Torrential rains lashed Gadchiroli district that recorded over 100 mm rains through the day. In Nagpur, a wall collapse claimed two kids aged 8 and 12 years," said Tiwari.

“Vidarbha is in the grip of an agrarian crisis and farmers are committing suicides due distress and despair. The present crop failure will add fuel to their gloom and debt - resulting in more farm suicides hence we are urging the administration to provide relief aid related to food, kerosene and health care so that such ill-fated extreme consequences are avoided,” Tiwari added.