Severe Flooding in Maharashtra Claims Lives and Displaces Thousands

Heavy rains in Maharashtra's Marathwada region have resulted in at least five fatalities and left hundreds stranded. The state government has approved a substantial relief package for farmers affected by the flooding. Rescue operations are ongoing, with significant rainfall expected to continue. Opposition leaders are calling for additional support from the central government as the situation remains critical. Read on for more details about the impact and government response to this natural disaster.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 24, 2025, 11:10 IST

Devastating Floods in Marathwada Region

Recent heavy rainfall in Maharashtra's Marathwada region has resulted in the tragic deaths of at least five individuals, with hundreds more stranded due to rising floodwaters. The state government has announced a relief package of Rs 2,215 crore to assist approximately 31.5 lakh farmers impacted by the severe weather.

Over 5.5 lakh acres of agricultural land have been inundated in Marathwada over the past two days, with districts such as Dharashiv, Beed, Solapur, and Ahilyanagar facing the brunt of the disaster.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted continued heavy rainfall in central Maharashtra from Thursday through Monday, complicating rescue efforts.

Rescue operations are currently active across four districts, with the National Disaster Response Force reporting the successful rescue of 320 individuals within the last 24 hours. The Army has also intervened, airlifting 27 stranded residents in Dharashiv district.

Shirish Yadav, the deputy collector of Dharashiv, noted that villages like Bhoom and Paranda have been severely affected, with some areas recording over 100 mm of rainfall in just two days. He mentioned that regions such as Karjat and Jakhed in Ahilyanagar, as well as Ashti and Patoda in Beed, have also experienced significant rainfall. To manage the flooding, authorities have begun releasing 70,000 cusecs of water from local dams.

State Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan characterized the situation as dire, stating that the region has not experienced such intense rainfall in the last 50 to 70 years.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confirmed that while Marathwada is the most affected area, parts of Vidarbha and western Maharashtra have also suffered from heavy downpours attributed to cloudbursts.

The Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, has instructed ministers to visit the affected areas to oversee rescue and relief operations, ensuring that funds reach farmers' bank accounts within ten days. Opposition leaders are calling for additional support, with Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar urging the state to seek assistance from the central government.

Pawar expressed his concern, stating, 'I have never seen this kind of rainfall in Marathwada. Farmers have lost everything. They need our support.' Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray has requested Rs 10,000 crore from the Union government to aid recovery efforts.