By | Kunvarchand Mandle
Nanded (Maharashtra): Torrential rains over the past week have wreaked havoc in Nanded district, causing widespread flooding and severe damage to crops and property. Farmers across several talukas are staring at heavy losses, while citizens continue to grapple with floodwater entering homes and shops.
According to district reports, more than 7.5 lakh hectares of farmland have been affected, with some areas losing up to 100 percent of standing crops. Major crops such as soybean, cotton, moong, urad, jowar, sugarcane, turmeric, banana, and paddy have been destroyed. Livestock losses have added to the distress.
The worst-hit talukas include Deglur, Biloli, Naigaon, Mukhed, Kandhar, Dharmabad, Kinwat, Ardhapur, and Nanded city, where rivers such as Godavari, Lendi, and Manyad swelled dangerously after cloudburst-like rains on August 28 and 29. Villages along riverbanks remain inundated, with agricultural lands eroded and homes washed away.
On a visit to the affected regions, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Ajit Gopchade assured farmers of immediate support. He stated that he would urge Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to sanction a special financial assistance package for Nanded and ensure speedy settlement of crop insurance claims.
> “The scale of destruction is unprecedented. Farmers need urgent compensation and relief. I will strongly press the government to provide special financial aid to Nanded district without delay,” said Dr. Gopchade during his inspection.
Meanwhile, distressed farmers have appealed to the government to release compensation at the earliest, as their crops—and with them, their year’s income—lie devastated.
The district administration has submitted an initial damage report, while BJP leaders have also called for assistance under NDRF norms. With agriculture and livelihoods under severe threat, farmers are anxiously awaiting relief measures to tide over the crisis.
