Maharashtra: Mahabaleshwar, Ratnagiri witness record rain, NDRF swings into action

Mahabaleshwar, a hill station in Maharashtra, recorded an all-time high rainfall of 594mm in 24 hours for July, a weather expert said on Friday.

Mumbai:Maharashtra has been witnessing devastating floods caused by incessant rains in the last 24 hours. Mahabaleshwar, a hill station in Maharashtra, recorded an all-time high rainfall of 594mm in 24 hours for July, a weather expert said on Friday.

"With 594 mm, #Mahabaleshwar a hill station of #Maharashtra made all time record for 24 hous #rain in July. Earlier record was if 439.8 mm on July 7 in 1977. Rain to reduce by tomorrow. #MahabaleshwarFloods," Mahesh Palawat, vice president of a private weather monitoring agency tweeted.

Ratnagiri, a port town in Maharashtra overlooking the Arabian Sea, has recorded the highest rainfall in the last 40 years for July. More than 50 per cent area of Chiplun, a coastal town in Ratnagiri, around 250 km from Mumbai and having a population of over 70,000, has got submerged in flood waters. Three other districts have been flooded and two districts are facing a flood-like situation, news agencies reported.

The Western Naval Command, Mumbai, rushed flood rescue teams and helicopters to provide assistance to the flood-hit areas in Raigad and Ratnagiri, defence officials said here on Friday. The naval teams are fully self-sustained and equipped with Gemini rubber boats, loud hailers, first aid kits, life jackets and life buoys, and manned by specialist naval divers and diving equipment.

The seven teams that were earlier sent to the state by road following an appeal from the Maharashtra government encountered difficulties due to adverse weather condition and inundation of roads. Additional flood rescue teams are being maintained on a high degree of readiness at Mumbai, for immediate deployment, should the need arise, a navy spokesperson said.

At least 32 people died due to a landslide in Raigad on Friday.