Drone Footage To Be Accepted As Proof Of Crop Loss, Says Fadnavis As Marathwada Reels Under Floods

Last Updated:September 25, 2025, 10:28 IST

Farmers in Marathwada have been badly hit, with soybean, cotton, and maize fields left under water

A person makes his way through a flooded area in Solapur district of Maharashtra. (PTI)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said drone footage will now be accepted as official proof while carrying out crop loss assessments across Maharashtra. The decision comes after heavy rains flooded large parts of Terna and Manjara river catchment areas, damaging thousands of acres of standing crops.

Fadnavis, who visited the affected villages, stressed that surveys must reflect the real damage suffered by farmers. He said compensation will only be fair if assessments are done carefully and plot-wise. “Drone surveys will ensure accuracy and transparency. The visuals captured by drones will also be treated as valid evidence while preparing panchanamas,” he assured.

Farmers in Marathwada have been badly hit, with soybean, cotton, and maize fields left under water. The chief minister promised that relief will not be delayed and directed officials to stay on the ground until rehabilitation is completed. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar also toured flood-hit areas, asking local authorities to provide immediate help with food, shelter, and medicines. He said every affected family must be covered under relief measures.

In the last two days, several senior ministers from the state government have rushed to the flood-affected belts. Along with Fadnavis and Pawar, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde also conducted aerial surveys and met with villagers to take stock of the damage. Agriculture minister Dattatraya Bharne faced agitated farmers in Marathwada demanding urgent relief and assured that compensation payments would be released quickly, even before Diwali if needed. Water resources minister Girish Mahajan visited Dharashiv district, where villagers stopped his convoy to press for immediate aid. Meanwhile, relief packages, food supplies, and NDRF rescue teams have been deployed in worst-hit talukas, with priority given to cut-off and severely damaged villages.

Marathwada, already known for its fragile farm economy, has been battered by continuous heavy rainfall over the past week. Rivers have swelled beyond their capacity, breaching banks and flooding villages. Several houses have collapsed, roads are under water, and farmers have seen entire fields wiped out overnight. The erratic nature of the rains has worsened the crisis—some talukas have faced intense downpours while others remain parched, creating a double burden of flood and drought in the same region. For many farmers, this year’s losses come on the back of repeated crop failures in recent seasons, deepening financial stress and uncertainty.

By allowing drone footage as proof, the state hopes to speed up the process of compensating farmers and cut down disputes over damage claims. Officials say this will also help build reliable records of flood impacts, which can guide future planning. As the waters begin to recede, the government is focusing on quick aid and long-term measures like barrages and stronger irrigation projects to protect farmers from repeated losses.

About the Author

Mayuresh Ganapatye

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa…Read More

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa… Read More

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