At least 30 persons are feared to have been swept away and over 650 families rendered homeless when a dam overflowed, causing flash floods in the Yavatmal district of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra on Sunday morning. Rescue workers have found 15 bodies so far, reports reaching Nagpur said.

Localities on the banks of the river Dhawada were inundated when the Nandgavhan dam overflowed following incessant rains on Saturday night. Initial reports had said that the dam had collapsed.

The floodwaters washed away 400 houses in Digras in Yavatmal district and 250 in Barshi in the neighbouring Pusad tehsil of the same district.

Rescue workers have found 13 bodies in Digras and two bodies in Barshi. Rescue operations are continuing.

Resident District Collector Jiten Papadkar said there has been no damage to the dam. People were swept away and their hutments collapsed due to the overflowing dam and the swollen river waters, he said.

Nearly 500 families in Digras residing in localities on the banks of the river have been evacuated to safety. District Collector Harshdeep Kamble and other officials have rushed to the affected villages. The floodwaters are now receding.

Central India News Service