Heavy rains hit Gondia, Bhandara districts; roads inundated, villages cut off

Gondia: Incessant rains lashed Gondia and Bhandara of Maharashtra on Tuesday, inundating roads in several parts of the districts and cutting off remote villages, officials said.

The Wainganga River in Bhandara crossed the danger mark, and authorities have urged people to remain alert and avoid venturing near water bodies.

According to the administration, all 33 gates of the Gosikhurd Dam in Bhandara and four gates of the Pujaritola Dam in Gondia district were opened.

A landslide hit the movement of vehicles on the Nagpur-Raipur National Highway 53 at Masulkasa Ghat, and efforts are on to clear the debris, police said.

Heavy rains and flooding affected movement on roads connecting Jawari-Kidangipaar in Amgaon tehsil, Girola-Ghategaon in Sadak Arjuni tehsil and Ghatkuroda-Ghogra in Tirora tehsil of Gondia, while several roads were closed in Bhandara district.

District disaster management officer Rajan Choubey said that of the 41 administrative circles in Gondia, 33 received incessant rainfall in the last 24 hours, with Deori circle recording the highest 240.5 mm rains, followed by Mahagaon, Keshori and Gothangaon with 234.8 mm rainfall.

In Bhandara, the Wainganga River crossed the danger mark of 245 metres on Tuesday afternoon.

In the last 24 hours, Lakhandur tehsil in Bhandara recorded the highest rainfall of 164.7 mm, followed by Paoni at 155.1 mm and Tumsar at 147.6 mm.