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.
