The Bhamragarh flood in south Gadchiroli has cut off nearly 15,000 people for more than 48 hours, submerged key bridges and roads, and forced authorities to airlift three critically ill patients to safety as swollen rivers continue to isolate the taluka from the rest of the district.
The only motorable link to Bhamragarh headquarters, the National Highway 130-D bridge over the Parlakota river, remained submerged. Traffic on the Hemalkasa-Bhamragad stretch was still closed even after local rain stopped, while officials monitored water levels in the Indravati, Parlakota and Pamulgautam rivers.
District collector Avishyant Panda directed the emergency response, which included the evacuation of 525 people from danger zones. Water entered the houses of 252 families, while 63 villages remained marooned, according to officials. Four major routes were shut: Hemalkasa-Bhamragad on NH 130-D, Asarali-Somanpalli-Patagudam on NH 63 near Sironcha, Bhamragad-Arewada and State Highway 380.
Officials attributed the flooding to heavy rain in the upper catchment area in neighbouring Chhattisgarh rather than intense rainfall in Bhamragarh itself. Between 225 mm and 250 mm of rain in the neighbouring state caused the Indravati to swell, sending strong currents towards the Parlakota and Pamulgautam rivers. The Triveni Sangam, where the three rivers meet, is about 2 km from the old bridge on the Bhamragad-Allapalli road, which went under water on Friday afternoon.
Tehsildar Kishore Bagde said the strong current in the Indravati was holding backwaters in settlements, preventing water from draining despite clearer skies over the taluka. Police were posted on both sides of submerged routes, and barricades were installed to stop residents from attempting to cross.
The medical evacuation was carried out after three patients required urgent treatment. Sangeeta Chukku Usendi, 70, was brought from Binagonda to Laheri Primary Health Centre before being flown to Hedri hospital. Apeksha Aalam and Roshan China Madavi were also airlifted; officials said one of the patients had sickle-cell disease. Relatives Nirmala Aalam and China Kudyami accompanied them.
The helicopter, operated by Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd and already stationed in the area for medical needs, was deployed at short notice. Tribal development project officer Amar Raut and Bhamragad tehsildar Bagde coordinated the evacuation. A day earlier, 42-year-old Sukhdev Ugle, who reported chest pain, had been airlifted from Bhamragarh to Konsari and then taken by ambulance to Chandrapur.
Dr Gopal Roy, superintendent of Lloyds Kali Ammal Memorial Hospital at Hedri, said reaching hospitals in time remained a major challenge for serious patients during the floods. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said teams had been sent to evacuate residents and that he was in constant contact with the administration.
Authorities said the submerged bridge and closed roads would be reopened only after water levels fell and the structures were declared safe. Administration teams continued to remain in touch with isolated habitations while waiting for the Indravati, Parlakota and Pamulgautam rivers to recede.
