Rain and lightning kill eight, four die in house collapse

At least eight persons have died due to drowning or lightning in various parts of Maharashtra on Sunday and Monday, said Suhas Diwase, director of the state’s disaster management cell. Apart from that, four persons of a family died in house collapse due to heavy rains in Pachora Bari village in Nandurbar district.

A severe cloudburst played havoc in Pachorabari village in Nandurbar district on Sunday night. Nandurbar collector Dr M.S. Kalshetti, SDO Sunil Gadhe and senior revenue and police officers were at the village overseeing the rescue and relief operations on Monday.

Dr M.S. Kalshetti told The Asian Age that four persons of the same family died while two others were missing. “The village is situated on both sides of the railway track. One village suffered from the flood while the other remained unaffected. About 147 houses have been damaged, out of which 36 houses are completely gutted. We are making arrangements for immediate relief and rehabilitation of the affected families,” he said.

A total 173 animals have died, which include 46 cattle and 127 goats and sheep. The panchanama has been completed and names of the affected persons have been recorded.

Mr Diwase informed that Nashik, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Akola and Ratnagiri districts witnessed very heavy rainfall from Sunday. “Total eight people have died including three in Gadchiroli, two in Bhandara and one each in Satara, Ahmednagar and Nashik districts,” he said.

Three youths including a teenager travelling in a car were drowned in Wainganga river in Gadchiroli while their fourth companion is missing. Mr Diwase informed that the district administration had issued warning asking people not to travel in the area where the incident happened. “But they ignored the warning. The efforts are on to trace the fourth person, but there is little chance that he may be alive,” he said.