Maharashtra rains: Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis in action mode, direct administration to face any emergency in wake of heavy floods

In the wake of heavy rains after the IMD’s alert in Mumbai, Konkan and other parts of Maharashtra, the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed the state administration officials to take precautions and ensure there is no loss of life or property. Shinde has asked the district administration to alert NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams to be ready to move in the areas with high rains and floods for conducting rescue and relief operations. Accordingly, 9 NDRF teams and 4 SDRF teams have been kept ready.

Shinde said so far 3,500 people have been rescued and shifted to safer places from various parts of the state. In addition, a large number of people from the Konkan region have also been moved to safer places.

Shinde spoke to the chief secretary Manu Srivastav and concerned secretaries in charge of the districts hit with high and torrential rains and directed them to keep a close vigil. Mumbai and some of its neighbouring districts witnessed heavy rainfall and flooding on Tuesday morning. The IMD also issued an ‘orange alert’ for south Konkan region and Goa and a ‘yellow alert’ for north Konkan, north central and south central Maharashtra and Marathwada regions.

The Chief Minister’s Office in a statement said ‘’CM Shinde is in touch with collectors of Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. The NDRF has also been asked to remain alert. The situation in Mumbai is also being closely monitored.’’ ‘’Kundalika river in Raigad has crossed the danger mark. The water level of the Amba, Savitri, Patalganga, Ulhas and Gadhi rivers was a little less than the danger mark, it said.

Further, the Chief Minister has also asked the officials from the water resource department to remain alert and take necessary precautions in view of the heavy rains. ‘’People, especially in Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Kolhapur, where the rainfall intensity is more, should be alerted about floods in advance, the statement said.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he has directed the Raigad district collector to take necessary steps in the wake of floods due to heavy and torrential rains. ‘’The administration and the entire machinery have been asked to be ready to deal with any emergency. The NDRF and state administration are monitoring the situation.