6 die amid rain havoc in Vidarbha, floods ravage villages, kharif fields

Six people died in rain-related incidents across Vidarbha, including a mother and two daughters in Yavatmal district who drowned after their car was swept away while crossing a flooded bridge.

In Bhandara district, a 66-year-old man was swept away crossing a flooded stream at Manded village; in Wardha district, school teacher B Naranje died crossing a rain-swollen nullah near Hinganghat; in Buldhana district, 85-year-old Saraswati Gotiram Palhade died when her house wall collapsed.

Heavy rains submerged large stretches of newly sown kharif fields, raising fears of significant crop losses for farmers across the region.

Gadchiroli was among the worst-affected districts, with overflowing rivers cutting off villages and at least 24 roads closed; Bhamragarh tehsil recorded nearly 200 mm of rainfall in 24 hours.

Rescue teams worked round the clock to evacuate stranded residents from flood-hit areas.