Weather Update / Heavy rains and landslides worsened the situation in Maharashtra, so far 112 people died

The death toll in Maharashtra's Pune and Konkan divisions in the last three days due to torrential rains and landslides in some areas rose to 112 on Saturday, including 52 in coastal Raigad district alone. This information was given by the state government. As many as 1,35,313 people have been shifted to safer places, including 78,111 in western Maharashtra's Sangli district and 40,882 in Kolhapur district. Officials said there is flood in Krishna river in Sangli and Panchganga in Kolhapur. However, the rain has subsided.

People in flood-hit towns of Konkan like Chiplun, Khed and Mahad are struggling to cope with the disaster. The challenge before the administration right now is to restore the supply of water and electricity and to arrange food and medicines in the affected areas.

41 bodies have been recovered after a landslide on Thursday in Taliye village of Raigad. Many others are still missing, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Konkan) Sanjay Mohite said. The Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the intensity of rain is expected to decrease over the west coast in the next 24 hours. Between July 21 and 24, Raigad district reported 52 deaths, followed by Ratnagiri (21), Satara (13) and Thane (12).

It is said that there have been seven deaths in Kolhapur, four in Mumbai, two in Sindhudurg and one in Pune. A total of 99 people are missing in these areas, including 53 in Raigad, 27 in Satara, 14 in Ratnagiri, three in Thane and one each in Sindhudurg and Kolhapur. At least 53 people were injured in rain-related incidents.

According to the agency, 3,221 cattle were also killed, including 3,024 in Satara district and 115 in Ratnagiri, the official statement said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 34 teams for rescue operations in the state. Apart from this, teams of local administration and army are engaged in rescue and relief work. Collector Shekhar Singh said that at least 13 bodies have been recovered from landslide sites in Ambeghar and Dhokawale villages in Satara district. The landslide occurred on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind called up Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari earlier in the day and expressed concern over the loss of life and property due to rains and floods in the state. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the families of the victims would be given financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each, while the central government has announced Rs 2 lakh each. Apart from this, ration kits including rice, pulses and kerosene will be distributed in the affected areas. He said that the Maharashtra government is coordinating with neighboring Karnataka to ensure timely release of water from the Almatti dam to reduce flooding in Kolhapur district, which is over the reservoir.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that since landslides have proved fatal in many parts of the state, the government will come up with a plan to permanently relocate people living in hilly areas. He was talking to reporters in Taliye village, the site of the deadliest landslide. "People living in hilly slopes and hilly areas will be shifted. A plan will be made to shift smaller settlements from such places," he said.