Maharashtra has witnessed unprecedented flooding-CM Thakarey

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that the state has witnessed unprecedented flooding in the past few days. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai post a review meeting, Thackeray said the erratic climate has forced the government to ponder over a new definition of floods. While saying that the extent of the damage cannot be ascertained so far. Thackeray said efforts are being made to send in masks, medicines for water-borne diseases, blankets, food packets, water bottles, etc to relief camps at the earliest.Road and rail traffic too continues to remain affected as the Mumbai-Bangalore Highway remains shut and the rail traffic between Chiplun and Kamathe section of Konkan Railway yet to be restored.

Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, at least 125 people have died in landslides in Raigad district as incessant rain continued to batter the Konkan region of the state. Heavy rainfall over the last two days has caused flooding in parts of the coastal region and hit road and rail traffic. Thousands sre still stranded in floods and landslides. A team of rescuers has pulled out 30 bodies from the debris of a landslide at Talie village near Mahad in Raigad district. A portion of hillock came down late Thursday, burying some houses in soil. Unprecedented rainfall in Ratnagiri, Raigad, Sindhudurg, Satara, Kolhapur and Sangli regions has wreaked havoc, causing massive loss of life and property.

According to Aditi Tatkare, Raigad district guardian minister, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and police are also searching for missing persons. “Rescuers are finding it difficult to search for missing persons due to the difficult terrain. So far, 30 bodies have been recovered and more may be trapped,” said Tatkare.  Helicopters are being used to evacuate people from the flood-hit regions in Raigad. Authorities have appealed to those trapped to go to the rooftops or on heights from where the rescue teams in the helicopters can spot and evacuate them. With the rain fury coming amid the coronavirus pandemic, Maharashtra faces a dual challenge of tacking both. The Chief Minister has asked officials to ensure that treatment of Covid patients and other patients is not affected. IMD has issued red and orange alerts for several regions in the state that are set to receive heavy rainfall in the next three days.Pm Narendra Modi expressedncondolences to the bereaved families and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.

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.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 23, 2021