Schools, Colleges in Nagpur To Remain Shut on Monday Due to Heavy Rains

Nagpur: Nagpur District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, on Sunday, announced the closure of all schools and colleges in the district on Monday, July 22 owing to incessant rains.

Itankar, in a circular issued on Sunday, declared, “All schools and colleges in Nagpur district will remain closed on 22 July due to heavy rain. IMD issued Orange alert in Nagpur.”

Speaking about the flood-like situation in the district, Amol Patil, a lawyer from Nagpur, told Republic, “Water logging has become a regular feature in the city. Residents instead of enjoying rain are scared of it! The administration has failed to address this issue on priority and in a systematic manner. Unplanned and blind development work appears to be one of the reasons for the same.”

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Saturday, posted on X and said, “Life has been disrupted due to heavy rains in Nagpur city and district. I am in constant touch with the Divisional Commissioner, Collector and local administration and the Collector himself is visiting the city.”

A man and an elderly woman lost their lives, while a 12-year-old boy went missing after they were swept away in flood waters in separate incidents amid heavy rains in Nagpur district, officials said on Sunday. 

The district administration said in a press release that all three were swept away in flood waters on Saturday.

The rising waters of a nullah dragged away Bhojraj Patle (52) at Shyam Nagar, Punapur. His body was recovered later, it said. 

At Narendra Nagar, 85-year-old Vishvesharrao Weluekar met a similar fate. Her body was found on Sunday morning. 

Shravan Tulsikar (12) was playing near a swollen nullah at Mohan Nagar in Bharatwada when he fell into it. He is yet to be traced, said the release.

Heavy rains lashed Nagpur city and parts of the district earlier during the day, disrupting normal life as water entered low-lying areas, prompting the authorities to move people to safer places and declare a holiday for schools and colleges for the day as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau has forecast thunderstorms with lightning and light to moderate rains at isolated places in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Wardha, Amravati, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Gondia and Bhandara districts on Sunday night. In Gadchiroli district, 31 roads are blocked due to rains and overflowing rivers and streams, said officials.

(with PTI inputs)