A view of the flood hit areas following heavy monsoon rains, in Raigad district, Friday, July 23, 2021. (PTI) Amidst incessant rainfall across coastal and inland Maharashtra, at least 37 people were killed in separate incidents of landslides in the state.
As many as 32 died following a landslide in Taliye village in Mahad Taluka, Raigad on Thursday. Around 35 houses were buried under debris and several people were still feared to be missing or trapped under it. In another landslide, four people died in Poladpur, which is also a landslide-prone area.
Maharashtra rains update: Damage caused by the landslide in Taliye village.
Meanwhile, at least 12 villagers are believed to be trapped under debris due to a landslide in Mirgaon village in western Maharashtra’s Satara district. One body has been retrieved and efforts to locate others are underway.
Teams of NDRF, SDRF, Navy, and local administration were rushed to the site on Thursday evening. However, rescue efforts were impeded by heavy showers, waterlogging, and connectivity issues. Local authorities are yet to ascertain the exact details of casualties.
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray during a meeting in the disaster management control room to take stock of the monsoon disasters in the Konkan region of the state.
“32 bodies have been recovered from the debris and the rescue operation is still on,” said Nidhi Chowdhury, Raigad District Collector.
According to the district administration, there are around 110 villages in the district which are landslide-prone, and out of these 20 are particularly at risk.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said rescue operations were underway and that he had ordered the evacuation and relocation of people living in areas where there is a possibility of landslide, news agency ANI reported.
Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the situation in Maharashtra was being closely monitored and assistance was being provided to the affected.
Anguished by the loss of lives due to a landslide in Raigad, Maharashtra. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery.
The situation in Maharashtra due to heavy rains is being closely monitored and assistance is being provided to the affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2021
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed condolences and urged Congress workers to assist in rescue work.
My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
I appeal to Congress workers to assist in relief and rescue work.Rains continue to cause disaster and disruptions in many parts of Maharashtra. Please stay safe. pic.twitter.com/0su6PjwkiM
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 23, 2021
“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I appeal to Congress workers to assist in relief and rescue work. Rains continue to cause disaster and disruptions in many parts of Maharashtra. Please stay safe,” Gandhi said in a tweet.
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