Heavy and unseasonal rains lashing Maharashtra over the past several days have crippled life in Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh. The downpour has left multiple villages inundated, roads cut off and communication snapped in several parts of the state. Kharif crops have been destroyed, leaving thousands of farmers staring at mounting debts and an uncertain future.
In Jalgaon district, the impact has been severe. Chalisgaon taluka recorded 100 mm rainfall in a single day, damaging crops in all seven revenue circles. In Hadgaon, cotton crops that were on the verge of harvest have perished in waterlogged fields. A distressed farmer revealed he had invested ₹5 lakh on five acres of land but now expects no returns. Farmers warned that without immediate financial aid, the upcoming Diwali festival would be spent “in darkness.”
Floodwaters have forced residents in several villages to move to safer areas. With crops flattened across large swathes of farmland, opposition leaders have demanded that the government declare a “wet drought” to ensure timely relief.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut strongly criticised the state administration, holding Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan responsible. “In Maharashtra, Girish Mahajan is in charge of disaster management, and that is why we have seen the greatest disasters,” Raut said while addressing reporters.
He also hit out at the government’s slow response in providing aid. “Farmers have still not received the help they desperately need. Immediate compensation of ₹50,000 per hectare must be provided, loan recoveries must be stopped at once, and loan waiver announcements can follow later,” he demanded.
Raut further targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of ignoring the flood crisis. “At such times, the home minister should visit the affected areas. Instead, he is busy with BCCI elections, campaigning in Bihar and deciding the cricket board’s next president. Shah has not visited Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded, Beed, Dharashiv or Latur. The chief minister is visible, but where is the aid?” he asked.
With mounting farmer losses and growing anger, the state government faces increasing pressure to act swiftly and announce relief before the situation worsens further.
