News Analysis India

Tag: Raigad landslide

  • Raigad administration to build memorial for 84 who died in Maharashtra landslide

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  The Raigad district administration has decided to build a memorial for the 84 people who were killed in a landslide in Taliye village recently. 

    Nidhi Chaudhari, Raigad District collector said the villagers told the administration that they will not go back to where their houses stood. 

    “We were told that the villagers want to construct the grand memorial for the victims who were killed in landslides. This will be a symbol for the deceased people,” Chaudhari said.

    “On the similar line, we will develop a memorial at Taliye village. But the design of this memorial will be different as this place is the medievel period history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and these villagers ancestors were soldiers in Shivaji’s army. Therefore, it will have more like heritage Fort reminding Shivaji’s period,” Chaudhari said adding that so many people can come and pay their respect by visiting this proposed memorial.

    “We have already asked the architect to work on the design. In the next few days, we will get the design, then it will be sent for approval by the state government and the budget allocations will be done. Once all administrative procedures are completed, the tender for the construction of the memorial will be constructed,” Raigad district collector said.

    The district administration had arranged the 13th-day rituals after the deaths of all 84 people.

    All villagers performed rituals together displaying the photos of their near and dear ones.

    The administration has also begun works to rehabilitate those affected by the landslides.Those who lost their homes have been houses in temporary shelters. 

  • 90,000 rendered homeless in flood-battered Maharashtra

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI: As rains finally took a break, the flood-ravaged districts of Maharashtra presented a grim scenario with over 90,000 people evacuated and only beginning to grapple with the idea of how to rebuild their lives, officials said here on Saturday.

    Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray along with chief secretary Sitaram Kunte visited Taliye village where 47 people lost their lives and 53 are still missing and assured rehabilitation of the affected families. He also announced the preparations of the master plan to control the torrential floods in the Konkan and western Maharashtra regions.

    “Government will work on this water management plan that will ensure that no areas of these regions face such high flooding due to heavy rain. This is the annual affair that has to be tackled by working on a long-term plan. It will help to save the lives of the people and avert the damages done to properties and cultivated land,” Thackeray said.

    According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), the towns of Chiplun and Khed in Ratnagiri district were completely inundated with water, both remained cut-off from land routes as the Vashishti River bridge was washed away in the flood.

    As unprecedented rains jacked up the water levels to more than 15-20 feet (or, two-three floors of buildings), thousands of people were stranded on rooftops or upper floors and were seen screaming for help.

    The NDRF and ICG teams were deployed to rescue them while the IAF choppers dropped food and medicine packets, and over 1,000 were evacuated safely.

    ALSO READ | Death toll in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra’s Raigad reaches 47; 53 missing

    With a stupendous record 110-cms rainfall in the popular hill station of Mahabaleshwar, massive water rushed to the Koyna Dam and Koltewadi Dam and their discharges caused the Vashishti River to swell above the danger levels, resulting in floods in the towns and villages on its banks.

    There were over a dozen hillsides and landslips in different districts burying scores and many more reported missing and efforts on a war footing are on to rescue them from the slush and stones.

    The state government has sanctioned Rs.2-crore for relief operations to the affected regions where water levels started receding and cleaning operations have been taken up.

    The SDMA today pegged the current official death toll at 76 besides another 59 missing and 38 injured in the floods, hill-slips, landslides, and other rain-related tragedies.

    The worst-hit districts were Kolhapur, Raigad, Sangli, Ratnagiri, Satara, Sindhudurg, Mumbai, and Thane, hitting a total of 890 villages.

    A total of 25 NDRF teams plus eight on standby, three units each of Indian Army and Indian Coast Guard, seven of Indian Navy, and one of Indian Air Force, besides local authorities are engaged in the rescue operations non-stop for the past over 24 hours.

    The SDMA said that with fresh rains starting in the area, the authorities are on high alert to prevent any untoward situation while health officials are keeping an eye on the region for a possible outbreak of any diseases in the flood aftermath.

    (With agency inputs)

  • Maharashtra rains: Ajit Pawar says 90,000 people evacuated so far from nine districts

    By PTI
    PUNE: Taliye village in Raigad district of Maharashtra was not identified as a landslide-prone area but the tragedy occurred due to excessive rains, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Saturday.

    Prima facie, at least 37 people lost their lives due to the landslide in the Taliye village on Thursday evening, according to officials.

    Speaking to reporters, Pawar also said 90,000 people were evacuated to safety so far from nine districts in Maharashtra hit by heavy rains.

    He said 21 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been working with 14 teams of the Army, the Coast Guard and others in the rain-ravaged districts.

    Besides, four teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have also joined the evacuation operations.

    Parts of Raigad, Ratnagiri districts in the coastal Konkan region and Kolhapur district in western Maharashtra, have been worst affected by the floods.

    Besides that, heavy rains have been pounding parts of the Satara district.

    At least 76 people died and 38 others injured in rain-related incidents, largely landslides and floods, in parts of Maharashtra, the state government said on Saturday.

    Speaking about the Taliye village landslide, Pawar said it was not a landslide-prone area but the excessive rain caused the incident.

    “Maharashtra has marked various areas which are landslide-prone and accordingly alerts are issued and other precautionary measures are taken. But Taliye wasn’t a landslide-prone area. Considering the red alert people from some of the areas of villages were warned while some were shifted already. However, an unfortunate incident took place,” said Pawar, who is guardian minister of Pune district.

    He said 23 areas in the Pune district are landslide-prone including five areas in Ambegaon, two in Maval, two in Khed, three in Bhor, besides one area each in Mulshi, Junnar, and Velha.

    “In these areas also many people have lost their lives. A total of 76 people have lost their life due to heavy rains till Saturday morning (in Maharashtra). These include 47 in Raigad, six in Satara, four in Mumbai and nearby areas, one in Pune, 11 in Ratnagiri, five in Kolhapur, and two in Sindhudurg.53 people are missing in Raigad, four in Satara and two in Thane till Saturday morning,” Pawar added.

    Pawar said the state government had already announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the victims killed in floods and landslides while the Central government has announced Rs 2 lakh each.

    “As many as 90,000 people have been relocated from the affected areas (in nine districts) and the flood-prone areas. 21 teams of NDRF have been working along with 14 teams of the Army, the Coast Guard and others. Four teams of the SDRF have also joined the operations,” he said.

    Pawar said the government has decided to distribute ration kits in these affected areas.

    “Usually a ration kit includes wheat, rice, pulses, and kerosene. But considering the restrictions to get wheat flour in this scenario, the government has decided to give rice, pulses, and kerosene in ration kits, which will help people prepare khichdi as a meal.

    Along with this, we are appealing social organisations to come forward to run Shivbhojan thali centres in the affected areas,” Pawar added.

    The deputy CM also said the Maharashtra government is coordinating with its Karnataka counterpart to ensure flood relief for the people (in Kolhapur district) by releasing water (from Almatti dam).

    Pawar said people from the 23 landslide-prone areas in Pune district are demanding relocation in view of the current incidents.

    “Many people are seeking their permanent relocation on the lines of the Malin village in Ambegaon tehsil but many people are also opposing. The government is very positive about relocating such villages and localities that fall under landslide-prone areas. We are ready for it,” Pawar added.

    Located in the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range, Malin village housing nearly 50 families had disappeared within a minute in the landslide in July 2014.

    The village was rehabilitated two km away from its original location in 2017 and is spread over on 8-acre land in Amde village.