Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared grim updates on Tuesday about the devastating heavy rains and floods hitting the state. Eight people have lost their lives, 10 others suffered injuries, and many remain stranded in Marathwada and nearby districts.
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Fadnavis announced that officials have ordered immediate damage assessments, known locally as ‘panchnamas,’ for agriculture. The region has seen a whopping 975.5 mm of rainfall so far, with more downpours expected. “The state government will step in with financial aid for farmers facing this natural disaster,” he assured.
Rescue efforts are underway in Dharashiv, and Fadnavis is pushing for extra helicopters to speed up relief work. He highlighted the government’s quick action on earlier rains since May: They’ve allocated Rs 2,215 crore in aid for affected farmers, with Rs 1,829 crore already transferred to bank accounts. The rest will follow within eight days. On top of that, fresh support is coming for the ongoing Maharashtra floods in Marathwada and surrounding areas.
District collectors now have full authority to deliver on-the-ground help during these natural calamities. Fadnavis also directed guardian ministers to head to the hardest-hit spots on Wednesday to oversee rescue and relief operations. He plans to visit the rain-soaked districts himself to monitor progress.
Without pointing fingers, the Chief Minister warned that some political groups might try to turn this crisis into a game. But he urged everyone to set politics aside: “This is too sensitive an issue for that.”
Earlier in the day, opposition leader and former Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar called on the Maharashtra government to act fast. He demanded swift panchnamas and compensation for farmers reeling from massive crop losses, damaged cattle, and destroyed properties amid the heavy rains and waterlogging.
Kharif crops across more than 26 lakh hectares have been wiped out statewide, with farmers in Solapur, Latur, Dharashiv, Jalna, Parbhani, and Ahmednagar bearing the brunt. Pawar, heading the NCP-SP, painted a stark picture: “This is a drought-prone area, yet we’ve seen unprecedented rainfall. Soybean, a dependable crop here, has rotted in the water, leaving farmers with nothing and heartbroken. I’ve witnessed droughts, but never rains like these.”
He stressed that both state and central governments must rally to support farmers during such Maharashtra flood crises. “The state needs to launch panchnamas right away and disburse aid. It should also tap central funds for natural disasters,” Pawar said. Compensation must cover lost crops, livestock, washed-away land, and even ruined roads, he added.
Pawar emphasized the long-term damage: “A lost crop hurts for one season, but eroded soil can end farming on that land forever. Officials must address complaints about missing cattle too—and do it all quickly.”
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