Jalgaon Floods: Hatnur Dam Opens 41 Gates, One Dead, One Missing

Heavy rainfall continued to batter Jalgaon district for the second consecutive day on Friday, causing widespread flooding and prompting authorities to issue flood alerts along the Tapi River.

The relentless downpour has claimed one life, left another person missing, and injured three members of a family due to electrocution. Bapu Jadhav, a 75-year-old resident of Vasantnagar, died after a wall collapsed on him during the heavy rain.

In a separate incident, Samadhan Chudaman Bhil, a 22-year-old from Shevge village, was swept away by floodwaters, and a search operation is currently underway. The heavy rainfall has damaged 15 buildings and affected 32 families across Jalgaon district.

With heavy inflows from the Purna River in Vidarbha and upstream catchment areas in Madhya Pradesh, the Hatnur Dam on the Tapi River opened 41 gates, releasing 3.50 lakh cusecs of water. The Girna Dam has reached 97% of its storage capacity, prompting authorities to open two gates and release 2,500 cusecs of water.

Additionally, 500 cusecs is being discharged from the Anjani Dam. The continuous rainfall has caused rivers, streams, and low-lying bridges across the district to overflow, disrupting normal life in several areas.

District Collector Rohan Ghuge, Tapi Irrigation Corporation Superintending Engineer Bhosale, and Hatnur Division Executive Engineer Aditi Kulkarni inspected the Hatnur Dam and reviewed the flood situation. Collector Ghuge urged citizens not to believe rumours and to strictly follow official advisories issued by the administration.

He advised people to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rainfall and warned against crossing flooded roads, bridges, rivers, or streams. Farmers have also been asked to exercise caution while working in fields and maintain a safe distance from electricity poles, snapped power lines, and waterlogged areas.

Livestock owners have been advised to shift their animals to safer locations until the flood situation improves. The district administration has issued an alert to villages located along both banks of the Tapi, urging residents to remain vigilant as the river continues to flow above danger levels.

The situation is being closely monitored by the authorities, and necessary measures are being taken to mitigate the effects of the flood. The heavy rainfall has brought life to a standstill in several areas, and the administration is working to restore normalcy as soon as possible.

The flood situation in Jalgaon is a reminder of the importance of being prepared for natural disasters and the need for effective disaster management. The authorities' prompt response to the situation has helped to minimize the damage, and their efforts to restore normalcy are ongoing.

In conclusion, the heavy rainfall in Jalgaon has caused significant disruption to life in the district, but the authorities' efforts to mitigate the effects of the flood are underway. The situation is being closely monitored, and necessary measures are being taken to restore normalcy as soon as possible.