State crops destroyed in heavy rains

Even as the IMD predicted continued rains in the state for the next 48 hours, continous rains in the state have resulted in the destruction of crops spread over 4 lakh hectares.

Marathwada districts of Beed, Nanded, Latur, Usmanabad, Parbhani, all drought- affected with the failure of the the previous two monsoons, have seen excessive rains, leading to crop loss. In Latur alone crops spread over 4 lakh jecatres have been destroyed. Standing crops of moong, soya beean and udid have been laid flat on account of excessive rains in Latur areas.

In Parbhani, the 28-foot Nagapur dam has already reached the 26-foot, with rains continuing in the catchment areas of the dam. In Nanded which has received 91 per cent rains this monsoon, the Godavari River has overflowed for the first time four years. In Beed 19 revenue circles have reported execessive rains.

In Konkan till now, Murud area in Raigad district received 4057mm and Ratnagiri district received 3880mm of rainfall. This year, from June 1 to September 23, Ratnagiri district received a total of 34924.52mm of rainfall.

Two more days of heavy rains likely Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted heavy rainfall for the city in the next 48 hours. Officials stated that the present low pressure area over North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, South Chhattisgarh and Telangana is likely to move towards Maharashtra in next two to three days which would bring heavy rainfall to the city.

An IMD official said, “At present the low pressure area is in the east coast and it is expected to travel towards west coast in next two days. Under the influence of this system, heavy rainfall is predicted in areas like Marathwada and Maharashtra.”

“Exceptional heavy rainfall is predicted in Konkan area in next 48 hours and we are also predicting heavy rainfall in the city as well,” added an IMD official.

In the past 24 hours, Colaba area in the city received a whooping 145.8mm of rainfall and Santacruz area received 104.1mm of rainfall in the city. With rainfall decreasing on September 23, IMD recorded 45.2 mm of rainfall in Colaba area and it recorded 39.7mm of rainfall in Santacruz area.

“We have recorded heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours. However, the intensity of the rainfall reduced on September 23. The pattern is set to change in next 48 hours with the movement of the low pressure area towards Maharashtra,” added an official.

"The cyclonic circulation is slowly moving towards adjoining districts of Maharashtra with Telangana. Heavy rains likely at few locations in these districts. Heavy to very heavy rain/spells also likely in Raigad, Ratnagiri districts and South Madhya Maharashtra districts with one or two heavy to very heavy spells.

It also warned of heavy to very heavy rains at few places in Konkan, Marathwada, Madhya Maharashtra and Vidharbha during next 24-48 hours.