Maharashtra Rains: Death Toll Reaches 129; Rescue Ops Underway
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Mumbai: The death toll in rain-related incidents, including landslides, in Maharashtra has increased to 129. Most of the deaths in the last 48 hours have been reported from the state’s Raigad and Satara districts. Besides landslides, several people have swept away in floodwaters.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of those who have died in flood-related incidents in the state.
READ: Raigad Landslide: PM Announces Rs 2 Lakh Ex-Gratia For Victims’ Kin, Amit Shah Dials CM Thackeray
The Chief Minister, who is closely monitoring the situation post the landslide, said that he has ordered the evacuation and relocation of the people living in areas where there is a possibility of landslide.
“The rescue operation is underway at many places. I have ordered the evacuation and relocation of people who are living in areas where there is a possibility of landslide,” he told the media.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to the Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance from the Centre to deal with the situation.
“The accident in Maharashtra’s Raigad due to heavy rain and landslides is very sad. I have spoken to CM Uddhav Thackeray and NDRF DG SN Pradhan in this regard. The NDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. The Centre is extending all possible help there,” he tweeted in Hindi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“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,’ he tweeted.
Prime Minister Modi has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to a landslide in Maharashtra’s Raigad.
Besides, Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured in the landslide from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
“PM @narendramodi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to a landslide in Raigad, Maharashtra. Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tweeted.
Around 15 teams of the military are holding flood rescue operations in Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Satara. Besides, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to carry out the rescue operations.
A total of 18 relief teams, including from the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard, have been deployed in the affected areas.
ALSO READ: Maharashtra Flood: Rain in Maharashtra, train services affected, some villages completely submerged.
The rescue operations are on in full swing as the locals’ fear that more people may be trapped under the debris.
KS Hosalikar, senior scientist of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Pune, said that 483 mm of rainfall in about 17 hours from 8.30 a.m. on July 22 to 1 a.m. on July 23 has been recorded in Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill station in Satara.
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