Nagpur: Major roads turned into rivers and underpasses disappeared beneath murky water as a cloudburst-like downpour on Nagpur on Tuesday overwhelmed the stormwater drainage network. Boats were pressed into service to evacuate stranded students after floodwater entered homes across the city.Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) fire and emergency services department mounted a massive rescue operation, evacuating 461 people. According to the fire department, it responded to 37 emergency calls, including 21 related to waterlogging, four tree-fall incidents and 12 rescue operations.Firefighters used inflatable boats to rescue 197 students, teachers and a few senior citizens from Tip Top Convent in Swawlambi Nagar. Nearly 300 students from Somalwar schools were evacuated with the help of ropes after floodwater surrounded the campuses. Four residents trapped in Suryoday Nagar, Narsala, were also shifted to safety.Roads at Pratap Nagar, Khamla, Ring Road, Padole Hospital Square, Narendra Nagar, Shatabdi Square, Swawlambi Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Manish Nagar, Besa and Gittikhadan remained submerged for hours, bringing traffic to a near standstill. Several cars were seen floating in floodwaters along the Chhatrapati Square-Khamla Square stretch of Ring Road.Waterlogging was also reported outside Nagpur railway station. Floodwater entered hundreds of houses in Chandramani Nagar, Narendra Nagar, Sahakar Nagar, Rajaram Nagar, Gittikhadan, Laxmi Nagar, Kamgar Nagar, Sanyal Nagar, Ramai Nagar and several other low-lying areas. NMC teams deployed motor pumps to drain water from residential colonies, while fire personnel continued rescue efforts till late evening. Residents in several localities also reported prolonged power outages.Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar, Mayor Neeta Thakre and Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare visited flood-hit areas. Itankar directed officials to ensure ongoing infrastructure projects do not aggravate flooding and instructed all departments to remain on high alert.Residents, however, alleged that roads dug up for the AMRUT 2.0 sewerage project, unfinished cement road works and construction debris contributed to flooding across several neighbourhoods.Meanwhile, fire dept personnel and a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued four persons stranded at Biodiversity Park near Ambazari after the water level rose rapidly following heavy rain. The rescue operation was launched at around 5.30pm.Mahavitaran’s Nara DC 33/11kV substation was also inundated, raising serious safety concerns for employees and nearby residents. Residents alleged that prolonged waterlogging posed a threat to electrical equipment and disrupted supply to several areas.
