The Nagpur District Collector has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on Monday, July 22, after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for the district. This closure includes schools, colleges, and coaching classes, aiming to prioritize the safety of students and staff as heavy rainfall intensifies, increasing the risk of flooding and making travel hazardous, particularly for school children.
Earlier today, the IMD issued an orange alert for the district, predicting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. The IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Nagpur also cautioned about moderate flash floods over a few watersheds (catchment areas and reservoirs) and neighborhoods in Amaravati, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, and Nagpur districts, valid for the next few hours. The weather department advised residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
Nagpur authorities urged parents to keep their children safe at home and refrain from allowing them to engage in outdoor activities. This plea follows a tragic incident on Sunday where a man and an elderly woman lost their lives, while a 12-year-old boy went missing after being swept away in flood waters during separate incidents amidst heavy rains in the district.
The district administration and disaster management teams remain on high alert, prepared to respond to any emergencies arising from the heavy rains. Rescue and relief teams are strategically positioned to address any incidents of flooding or waterlogging.
It is crucial to note that Nagpur has been experiencing relentless heavy rainfall over the past few days, causing significant waterlogging in many areas. Heavy rains are lashing the city and parts of the district, disrupting normal life.
Separately, the IMD issued an orange alert for Goa for the next four days, predicting heavy rains in two districts of the coastal state, which witnessed intense wet spells on Sunday. The weather department forecasted heavy rainfall at many places and very heavy rainfall at a few places with strong surface winds over the North Goa and South Goa districts from July 22 to 25. According to the Met Department bulletin, intermittent spells of rain with short, intense rainfall and winds gusting to 50 kmph are very likely on Monday.
