Raigad (Maharashtra): At least thirty six people have died in the landslides that occurred in Maharashtra's Raigad district caused by incessant rains that battered the region over the last 24 hours. "A total of 36 people died in the district due to landslides, 32 of them died in Talai and 4 in Sakhar Sutar Wadi," said Nidhi Chaudhary, the District Collector of Raigad. Over 1,000 people have also been rescued so far by various relief operations in the district after landslides were caused by incessant rains. There were also fears of 30 people having been trapped inside the debris, the official added. Four incidents of landslide were reported in Raigad. Amid heavy rains in Kolhapur district, the water level of the Panchganga river continued to rise at the Rajaram weir, officials from the district disaster management cell said. The officials said that at 10 pm on Thursday, the water level of the Panchganga river was 41.2 feet at the Rajaram weir, just short of the danger mark of 43 feet.
Meanwhile, Raigad Guardian Minister Aditi Tatkare informed that the Maharashtra government has sought assistance from the Central government and Army to rescue the people trapped in Mahad.
As many as 47 villages cut-off, 965 families affected
Around 47 villages were cut-off in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra after roads leading to them were submerged in water due to heavy rains and 965 families were shifted to safer places, while the Panchganga river hovered near the danger mark, officials say. According to the district administration, contact of as many as 47 villages in Shahuwadi, Panhala, Gaganbawda, Radhanagari, Ajra, Gadhinglaj, and Chandgad tehsils was cut-off from other parts due to roads leading to them getting submerged in rainwater. Till 8 pm, a total of 965 families from various rain-affected areas were taken to safer places, the officials said.
A team of NDRF has already evacuated and shifted locals of Chikhli village to safer places, due to an increase in the water level in the area as a result of heavy rainfall. Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held an emergency meeting to take stock of the flood situation in Ratnagiri and Raigad districts in the state, caused by torrential rains that have battered the region over the past 24 hours.
Maharashtra CM directs officials to stay vigilant
CM Thackeray directed the Disaster Management units and departments concerned to stay vigilant and start rescue operations immediately, informed the Chief Minister's office. Two teams of the NDRF were rushed to Ratnagiri's Khed and Chiplun areas to tackle critical situation due to high tide and heavy rain.
Two more teams have been mobilized for rescue operations one each for Khed in Ratnagiri and for Mahad in Raigad, from Pune headquarters. The national forecasting agency India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts for several regions in the state that are set to receive heavy rainfall in the next three days.
Prime Minister Modi assured of all assistance from Centre
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray of all possible assistance from the Centre to mitigate the situation arising in various parts of the state due to heavy rainfall and floods. The Prime Minister spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and reviewed the situation in the state. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Spoke to Maharashtra CM Shri Uddhav Thackeray and discussed the situation in parts of Maharashtra in the wake of heavy rainfall and flooding. Assured all possible support from the Centre to mitigate the situation. Praying for everyone's safety and well-being."
According to the Maharashtra Government's Public Relations Department, the Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister about the rescue operations being carried out by the state government and the measures being taken. It further informed that PM Modi said the Central government would do its utmost to help the state in rescue and relief work.
Two persons go missing in Western Maharashtra
Two persons went missing after a landslide took place in Western Maharashtra's Satara district on Thursday evening, at Devrookhwadi, a remote area of the tehsil, an official said, adding that 27 people from five affected houses were rescued. However, heavy rains have hampered the rescue operations and there might be a possibility of further landslide that could happen at the same site, the official added.
(With agency inputs)
