After a relentless downpour unleashed havoc across many parts of Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stepped in, visiting distressed villages in Solapur and Latur districts on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. He announced crucial relief measures for farmers, promising compensation before the festive season of Diwali and a much-needed relaxation in the rigorous ‘panchnama’ (official damage assessment) process, including its documentation.
During his visit to Ujani, a flood-stricken village in the Marathwada region—ironically known for its droughts—Mr. Fadnavis assured farmers that the government would set aside standard criteria to ensure they receive vital compensation. The villagers of Ujani highlighted the urgent need for repairing roads and bridges severely damaged by the heavy rainfall. In a show of unified support, both Deputy Chief Ministers, Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, also toured various flood-affected areas.
The past five days have seen Marathwada and Western Maharashtra grapple with severe flooding. The tragic toll includes 10 lives lost, thousands of animals perished, and countless individuals displaced. Alarmingly, crops on approximately 70 lakh acres have been devastated. An anonymous senior official from the Divisional Commissioner Office in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar confirmed that “76% of the panchnamas have already been completed.” Between September 23 and 11 am on September 24, around 4,000 people were safely rescued and relocated.
According to a report from the Chief Minister’s Office, Maharashtra has received a staggering 996.7 mm of rain since June, which is 103.57% above the average. This excessive rainfall has led to rivers overflowing, submerging farmlands and homes. Despite the widespread impact, Dharashiv and Latur, among the hardest-hit districts, recorded lower rainfall in the last 24 hours, with 11.6mm and 9.6mm respectively.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several districts, including Dharashiv, Nanded, Latur, Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad, indicating that these areas should prepare for another round of heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Political Squabble Over Relief Efforts
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s distribution of food kits to flood victims in Dharashiv district sparked controversy when it was discovered that the kits featured photographs of Mr. Shinde and Shiv Sena Minister Pratap Sarnaik. This move drew sharp criticism from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Accusing the ruling Mahayuti government of a “race for credit,” Mr. Raut, an MVA leader, condemned the politicization of disaster relief, stating, “Ministers are plastering their photos on aid packages. Bringing politics into this is utterly wrong.” In response, Mr. Shinde dismissed the criticism as “unfortunate,” urging people to focus on “what’s inside the kit, the things provided, and not the photo on the kit.”
Farmers Confront Agriculture Minister
On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne faced an agitated group of farmers in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. They confronted him with complaints about officials failing to complete their panchnamas. Mr. Bharne assured them, “This government is for the farmers, and we are doing everything possible to help them. Even if the panchnamas aren’t finalized before Diwali, the aid will still be distributed. We are actively working on completing these assessments.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Minister Aaditya Thackeray called for a comprehensive loan waiver for affected farmers. In a letter to CM Fadnavis, he highlighted that “many farmers have suffered losses of about 50% or more” and urged the government to “disburse the outstanding amount of over Rs 15,000 crore for compensation from previous natural disasters at the earliest.”
Government Officials Pledge Support
The Mahayuti allies, including the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar and Mr. Shinde’s Shiv Sena, have announced a donation of one month’s salary. Mr. Shinde confirmed that all Shiv Sena ministers and MLAs would contribute a month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, specifically designated to aid those affected by Maharashtra’s heavy rains.
Adding to the political engagements, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is slated to visit the flood-ravaged Marathwada region, including Dharashiv, on September 25.