By Dominick Rodrigues
Mumbai: Helicopters are patrolling the flood-affected areas with rescue squads to pick up stranded people off the roofs of their houses, even as air rescue operations are underway in Maharashtra – especially in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts which witnessed incessant rains causing devastating floods in 24 hours – that continues to be severely hit by the storming monsoon rains which caused flooding of rivers, towns and villages.
Meanwhile, 47 people were reported to be killed in landslides, heavy rains and floods in various parts of Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray annouced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of those who have died in flood-related incidents in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi annouced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of those who died in Raigad due to landslides, besides Rs 50,000 being given to the injured, the PMO tweeted.
NDRF battalions, local police and fire brigade as well as Coast Guard jawans are working with local residents in the rescue efforts, led by rescue squads and helicopters in Mahad, even as the administration appealed to people to climb and stay on the roof of their houses or any high location to enable these squads reaching them.
The Indian Navy has mobilized seven rescue teams for flood reliefs and evacuation in the severely-affected areas of Ratnagiri and Raigad districts. Two Navy rescue teams were rushed to Mahad in Raigad, while five teams were sent to Chiplun in Ratnagiri district — even as a team of army personnel arrived at Chiplun in Ratnagiri to conduct relief work
Meanwhile, 18 teams have been deployed and another eight additional teams will be sent out in Maharashtra, while about 32 bodies have been recovered following landslides in Raigad due to excessive rain,” according to Mohsen Shahidi, DIG, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
About 56 villagers were rescued along with cattle in Chiplun’s Mirjoli village after they were trapped following a landslide.
Kolhapur district witnessed as many as 47 villages being cut off after all connecting roads leading to them were submerged in water due to the heavy rains.
Mumbai , the economic hub of India – witnessed a building collapsing in the heavy monsoon rains and causing the deaths of seven people, besides leaving 20 others injured in Govandi area. Some parts of the suburban railway section in Mumbai were washed away by the torrential rains – causing delay in long-distance train traffic, while buses were arranged to ferry the stranded passengers.
Mudslides and falling boulders were reported at five or six locations in the 14 km Ghat (hill) stretch between Kasara and Igatpuri, outside Mumbai.
Noting the rising water level in the rivers, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray reviewed the flood situation while urging disaster management apparatus and other departments to remain on alert and ensure safe rehabilitation of people from the cities and adjoining areas of Khed, Chiplun, Lanja, Rajapur, Sangameshwar.
The Chief Minister asked officials to work with due care and caution taking in to account the prediction about Monsoon rains, where the state was placed on Orange alert by the weather Bureau. He also asked officials to make alternative arrangements for Covid patients there.
While a letup in the downpour was witnessed with flood waters receding in some places, many bridges and roads were reported to have been washed away in some hilly areas of Mahad taluka and the rescue teams are trying to shift the villagers to safety. About 4,000 food packets were prepared at Mangaon for distribution to the needy, while the administration also appealed to NGOs to help out in providing clothes, food and other required items.
The healthcare authorities in Mahad have kept a medical team at Batu Lonere on standby with ambulances and other supplies, while the MIDC fire brigade team was also readied for rescue support.
The Meteorological Department has issued red and orange alerts warning about heavy rainfall in many regions of in Maharashtra. A red alert – comprising 75% very heavy rainfall — has been announced for six district districts of Maharashtra including Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in Konkan coastal region, and Pune, Satara and Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra.
