Incessant rain lashed several districts in Maharashtra’s western and Marathwada regions on Sunday, causing flooding in many areas, with six villages in Dharashiv district completely cut off and thousands shifted to relief camps across the region.
Over 11,500 people were moved to safe places in Marathwada on Sunday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took stock of the situation and described the next two days as “critical,” saying, “the instructions are given to the district collector to be vigilant and inspect that schemes and services are implemented smoothly at the ground level.”
“Aid of ₹10,000 will be provided to people whose houses were inundated with water,” Mr. Fadnavis said, adding that collectors had been instructed to address concerns over fodder for animals.
This is the second spell of intense rain this month, damaging standing crops and houses across the region and displacing thousands. In September alone, Maharashtra has received 282.9 mm of rainfall.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mumbai, Konkan and Marathwada on Sunday, forecasting heavy rainfall in these areas until September 30. The State government has also issued an advisory urging people to remain cautious. The State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) warned of possible urban flooding in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.
According to the IMD, the depression over south interior Odisha moved westwards and weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over West Vidarbha and adjoining North Madhya Maharashtra at 8.30 a.m. on September 28. It is likely to weaken further in the next 24 hours, bringing very heavy rainfall over Konkan, Goa and Madhya Maharashtra on September 28 and 29.
On Sunday, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded 110.3 mm of rainfall, Ahilyanagar 81.8 mm, Solapur 47.2 mm, Beed 65 mm, Latur 75.3 mm, Colaba in Mumbai 120.8 mm, and Santacruz 83.8 mm. A red alert has been issued for Mumbai city and suburbs, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts, as well as the Pune and Nashik ghats for September 29.
Mr. Fadnavis also reviewed the situation in the eight Marathwada districts – Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Beed, Hingoli, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Dharashiv, Parbhani and Solapur. In a series of posts on social media platform X, he shared details of relocations and rescue efforts.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 362 citizens from Chakur city and Jalkot taluka were relocated. In Ahilyanagar, rivers and streams were in full spate. In Solapur, the Sina river was flowing above warning level at Vadakbal, while 12 people stranded in Dev Takli taluka were rescued with the help of an Indian Air Force helicopter. In Nanded, 304 people were housed in relief camps, with 120 in Loha. Sixteen camps have been set up in total. In Latur, more than 500 people were accommodated in relief camps, while 60 roads and bridges were submerged. In Jalna, 225 residents of Bhoipur, Arjunnagar, Lalbaug and Khandsari were shifted to safety, and 52 others rescued from floods.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nanded, the water level of the Godavari rose following heavy discharge from the Jayakwadi dam. According to the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, all 27 gates of Jayakwadi, the region’s largest reservoir, were opened, discharging 2.26 lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second). Discharge from Majalgaon dam was reduced from 95,000 to 41,701 cusecs. In Dharashiv, Solapur, Ahilyanagar and Beed, 75,000 cusecs were released from the Sina river, while Ujjain saw a discharge of 1 lakh cusecs.
From June 1 to September 26, heavy rainfall has affected 6,798 villages across Marathwada, leaving 90 people dead and 2,534 animals lost. A total of 7,727 houses and sheds have been damaged. Agriculture has borne the brunt, with 36.17 lakh farmers impacted and 30.90 lakh hectares of land damaged. Officials have completed punchnama for 22.47 lakh hectares.
Mr. Fadnavis said drinking water and food were being provided in relief camps, adding that ₹2,000 crore had been released as compensation. “The government’s mindset is to help as much as possible,” he said, instructing officials to be lenient in punchnamas and compensation. “Don’t be rigid about the rules and see to it that no inconveniences are caused to people in availing the compensation,” he added.
Published – September 28, 2025 09:07 pm IST
