Mumbai : Over 26,000 families have been evacuated to safer places from four districts of Maharashtra as heavy rains disrupted normal life in 15 districts while 20 people were killed in Marathwada region of the state in rain related incidents, official sources said today. The families were evacuated from Nanded, Yavatmal, Buldhana and Jalgaon districts and the state government has sought help of the Army and the Navy in rescue and relief work, sources in the Divisional Commissionerate said.

Marathwada and Vidarbha regions bore the maximum brunt of the rains, with 170 villages in 16 tehsils of Yavatmal district in Vidarbha being severely affected by the downpours. In Buldhana district, 4000 families in 80 villages were shifted to safer places.

Painganga and Wardha Rivers in Yavatmal and Godavari River in Nanded were overflowing, the sources said. The Ulhas River in thane district is in full spate following the heavy spell of rains, sources said. Altogether 678 villages in 85 tehsils of the state have been affected by heavy rains, sources said.

Meanwhile, the DED entrance exam, slated for August 8, has been postponed to august 17 due to heavy rains, they said. In Mumbai, heavy rains disrupted vehicular, rail and air traffic.

Waterlogging on the Western Express Highway and SV Road forced diversion of traffic at many places, sources said. Suburban train services on central and harbour line were disrupted for some time, though trains on western line were running smoothly, railway sources said.

Air traffic was also affected in the morning with flights operating behind schedule due to poor visibility. Several schools and offices recorded a low attendance.

Rain continues in Nasik; Godavari in spate

Incessant rains continued today in the district, forcing the Irrigation Department to release 1.5 lakh cusecs of water from Gangapur, Darna, Palkhed and Alandi Dams, resulting in increase in the water level of Godavari River.

The Godavari had crossed the danger mark last night and 530 residents from Saykheda, Kalegaon and Chandori villages in Niphad Taluka of the district have been moved to safer places by the authorities, Nasik Collector S Chokkalingam said. More were expected to be shifted during the day, he added.

The Nasik-Niphad Road has been closed due to inundation and traffic has been diverted. Traffic on the Trimbakeshwar-Javhar Road was moving snail`s pace, he said adding that an alert has been sounded for those in catchment areas.

5 bus passengers rescued in Buldana

Five passengers along with the driver and conductor of a state transport bus stranded in swirling flood waters in Buldana district were airlifted, police said today.

The passengers were rescued last night, they said adding that the vehicular traffic between Khamgaon-Jalgaon-Jamod, Lonera-Mehkar and Mehkar-Buldana was closed due to flooding. In Akola, various roads between Akola and Akot, Nimba-Lohar, National Highway No-6, Patur and Achalpur were closed for vehicular traffic due to inundation, police added.

Gujarat flood: Thousands evacuated from Surat district

Thousands of people living in low-lying areas of Surat district have been evacuated due to the rising water levels in Tapti River after heavy rains, officials said here today. In Vadodara, a holiday has been declared in primary and secondary schools in the city and the district following rise of water level at Ajwa Lake on the outskirts of the city, which is flowing just a feet below the danger level.

The district authorities have also asked the people staying in villages, located on the banks of River Narmada in Bharuch and Vadodara districts, to move to safer places following overflow of water from the Sardar Sarovar Dam across the river. PTI