Maharashtra: Central team reviews losses in flood-hit Beed district

A central government team conducted a detailed review of the extensive losses caused by floods and heavy rainfall in Maharashtra’s Beed district during September and October of 2025. On Wednesday, the team, comprising SVSP Sharma, a scientist from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and Vishal Pande, an executive engineer from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, visited various locations to assess the damage firsthand. Their evaluation included an inspection of agricultural lands, infrastructure, and local livelihoods severely impacted by the ongoing natural calamities. The team began their visit at Limba Rui village in Beed tehsil, where they observed farmlands that had been completely washed away, crops destroyed, and wells clogged with silt, rendering water sources unusable. Moving on to Yevalwadi in Shirur Kasar tehsil, they found a major bridge and roadway that had been swept away by floodwaters, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure repair and rebuilding. Further assessments in Karegaon, Ghatpimpri, and Devlali revealed extensive soil erosion and crop damage caused by the excessive rainfall in September. This evaluation is part of a broader state-wide effort to measure the extent of losses suffered during the 2025 Kharif cropping season, which was severely affected by unusually heavy rains, flooding, and related natural disasters. The central government has dispatched multiple such teams across Maharashtra to ensure thorough damage appraisals. Officials estimate that over 7 lakh farmers, owning roughly 7.13 lakh hectares of farmland, have been affected by these calamities. To mitigate the financial burden on the affected farmers, nearly 5 lakh individuals have already received compensation amounting to more than Rs 445 crore. Tragically, the torrential rains also resulted in the death of over 1,000 animals, mainly in the Marathwada region in central Maharashtra. Recognizing the scale of devastation, the Maharashtra state government announced a substantial compensation package worth Rs 31,628 crore last month, aimed at supporting farmers who faced significant losses during this particularly harsh monsoon season. According to the data, 29 out of the total 36 districts in Maharashtra, along with 253 out of 358 talukas, experienced the adverse effects of the heavy rainfall and floods. This widespread impact underscores the scale of the natural disaster and the urgent need for coordinated relief and rehabilitation efforts. The central and state governments are actively working together to address these challenges and support the affected communities as they recover from the aftermath of these relentless rains and floods.