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Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • Maharashtra CM urges Sitharaman to order disbursement of 50 per cent insured amount to flood-hit people

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday requested Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to order the insurance company to disburse 50 per cent the insured amount to the flood-affected people in the state.

    Thackeray made this demand in a letter addressed to her. “The representatives of insurance companies have agreed to pay at least 50 per cent amount of the coverage. However, they stressed on obtaining directives or instructions from the Union government to the headquarters of the insurance companies as well as to the IRDA,” he said.

    Thackeray reminded Sitharaman that there has been a precedent that the Centre issues such instructions as seen during the floods in Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala.

    Meanwhile, the chief minister held a meeting with the representatives of 11 insurance companies as well as collectors of the flood-affected districts.

    During the meeting, he also asked the insurance company representatives to accept the damage assessment reports prepared by the local revenue officials.

    “The insurance companies should not insist on not removing the damaged items for the sake of damage assessment. The revenue officials should take clear pictures of the damaged areas to avoid any confusion during the assessment,” Thackeray said.

    The flood-affected areas need to be cleared to avoid any spread of infection or epidemic diseases.

    The damaged vehicles and other material has to be removed at the earliest, the chief minister said, adding that the insurance companies should consider it.

    Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was also present during the meeting, said, “The insurance companies should not stress on producing every necessary document to settle the claim. Many people have lost their documents because of the floods.”

    In another meeting with bankers in the state, Thackeray made an appeal to them to supply loan to traders and shop owners at concessional rates.

    “The banks should also give some extension for loan repayment. They should make their branches operational,” he said.

  • Easing of COVID restrictions likely in 25 Maharashtra districts including Mumbai: State minister

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Mumbai and 24 other districts of Maharashtra which have reported COVID-19 positivity rates lower than the state’s average are likely to get more relaxation from restrictions, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday.

    The government is also considering if those who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus can be allowed to travel by local trains in Mumbai, he said.

    Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the state’s COVID-19 task force chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Tope said in the remaining 11 districts, where the infection rate is high, more restrictions may be imposed.

    “We have discussed introducing more relaxation in 25 districts including Mumbai where the positivity rate is much lower than the state’s average. A decision with a detailed set of instructions will be out in a couple of days,” he said.

    But there will be no relaxation in the remaining districts of Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Beed and Ahmednagar where the infection positivity rate is higher than the average, the minister said. “If required, the local authorities may introduce more stringent restrictions (in these areas) to contain the spread of coronavirus,” he said.

    The issue of allowing those who have taken both the doses of coronavirus vaccine to travel by local trains in Mumbai was also discussed extensively in the meeting, he said. “We are still discussing the ways to verify if a passenger has taken both doses. We will also speak to the railway authorities,” the minister said.

    At present only those engaged in essential and emergency services are allowed to travel by local trains in the state capital.

  • CM Thackeray’s visit to flood-hit parts in western Maharashtra cancelled due to bad weather 

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had to cancel his visit to the flood-hit Patan taluka in Satara district on Monday due to rough weather, an official said.

    Thackeray was to take a helicopter from Pune to Koynanagar and conduct an aerial survey of the affected areas.

    He was also scheduled to meet the affected people at a shelter camp set up at a zilla parishad school in Koynanagar.

    An official in the Chief Minister’s Office said Thackeray is scheduled to return to Mumbai as the tour has been cancelled due to “inclement weather”.

    Heavy rains last week caused landslides at Ambeghar and Mirgaon villages of Patan taluka. So far, 41 people have died in Satara district, while 27 people are missing, according to the state government.

    Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar toured various rain-hit villages in Sangli district on Monday and used a rescue boat to reach out to flood victims in some areas. He also interacted with the flood-affected people and assured them of rehabilitation and all help from the state government.

    On Sunday, the CM visited flood-ravaged Chiplun town in Ratnagiri district in the Konkan region, and interacted with residents, businessmen and shopkeepers.

    He promised them all help from the state government to restore normalcy in the area.

    Thackeray had said they will require “central assistance for long-term mitigation measures” and a comprehensive data of the extent of damages will be prepared.

  • 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 plans to relocate people living in hilly areas in view of landslides: CM Thackeray 

    Thackeray was speaking to reporters in Taliye village of Raigad district, where a landslide on Thursday evening has claimed at least 37 lives so far.

  • Maharashtra rains: Uddhav to visit flood-affected Mahad on Saturday; 44 bodies recovered so far

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will leave for the flood-affected Mahad by helicopter from Mumbai at 12 pm on Saturday.

    He will also visit the flood-hit Taliye village during his visit, the Public Relations Room (Chief Minister’s Secretariat) informed.

    A total of 44 bodies have been retrieved from the debris of the Mahad landslide, and the 35 who were injured are under treatment.

    Updating about the landslide triggered due to incessant rain, the Raigad District Collector, Nidhi Chaudhary said that 35 people who have been injured are under treatment.

    “Total 6 locations experienced landslides in Raigad district. At one location, rescue operation still continues. According to officials and staff present at the spot, around 50 more people are feared trapped under the debris,” Raigad DC said.

    Eight patients have, so far, have arrived at JJ Hospital and they are stable now, said the Medical Superintendent of JJ Hospital.

    Heavy rains triggered landslides at six locations in the district yesterday.

    Maharashtra Minister of Relief and Rehabilitation, Vijay Wadettiwar informed that 136 accidental deaths have been reported in Maharashtra till last evening due to rain and other monsoon-related incidents.

    Thackeray on Friday announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of those who lost their lives in the landslides caused by torrential rainfall in various parts of the state.

    “CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has announced Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of those who lost their lives in the landslides caused by torrential rainfall. The state will also incur the costs of treatment for those injured,” CMO wrote in a tweet.

    After taking stock of the situation, Uddhav Thackeray told reporters, “Due to landslides in Talai village, Raigad around 35 people have lost their lives. 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.”

    “NDRF and other rescue teams are facing problems reaching to the flood-affected areas in Chiplun as the roads and bridges are damaged. The situation remains tense”, said the Chief Minister.

    According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the state will also incur the costs of treatment for those injured.

    “NDRF and other rescue teams are facing problems reaching to the flood-affected areas in Chiplun as the roads and bridges are damaged. The situation remains tense”, said the Chief Minister.

    Several areas in Maharashtra have been battered by rain over the past few days. The Chief Minister was informed about the flood situation in Mahad by the Raigad District Collector.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra had also announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.

    The Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy has mobilized rescue teams to provide assistance of considerable resources to state and district administrations of affected areas in the large parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa reeling under extensive flooding due to incessant rains and consequent overflowing of riverbanks and dams over the last few days.

    A total of seven Naval Flood Rescue Teams (FRTs) from Mumbai have been deployed to Ratnagiri and Raigarh districts commencing from July 22.

    “One Seeking 42C Helicopter from, Mumbai was deployed for aerial reconnaissance at Poladpur/Raigad on July 23. One ALH helicopter from Goa was positioned at Ratnagiri for relief/rescue AM 23 July, Additional Flood Rescue Teams are being maintained on a high degree of readiness at Mumbai, for immediate deployment,” according to the Indian Navy.

    In Karnataka, at Karwar, the Indian Naval Emergency Response Team (ERT) comprising 17 Divers, five Geminis, associated equipment such as Life Jackets and Life Buoys was deployed in the morning hours on July 23 on the demand of assistance from the District Collector, Uttara Kannada District to rescue people stranded near Kadra Dam, Mallapur Kurnipet, Kaiga due to heavy rains and floods.

    The team was able to successfully evacuate over 100 stranded people at Singudda and Bhaire villages whilst rescue efforts are still going on at Kaiga and Mallapur.

    The rescued personnel were shifted to safe locations in coordination with the district administration. In another swift search and rescue mission undertaken at Dongri in the Gangavalli river belt, eight personnel stranded in two hotels were airlifted by Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), when local attempts for rescue were unsuccessful.

    The Naval ALH was launched from Goa and completed the rescue of the stranded people in over two hours successfully.

    In addition to providing aerial support to Karwar rescue efforts, a sortie was made to Ganjem near Goa’s Ponda to check and verify the receding water levels. Another ALH has been deployed at flood-affected Ratnagiri to undertake search and rescue missions, the Navy added.

    A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team carried out rescue and relief operations in the flood-affected lower Chiplun area in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district on Saturday.

    As per the official figures, at least 129 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra over the last two days as the state continues to receive heavy downpours.

    The Regional Meteorological Centre of Mumbai has issued a port warning for Maharashtra-Goa port. “Due to active monsoon conditions, Squally weather with wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph likely to prevail along and off Maharashtra-Goa coast. Keep Hoisted signal number LC-III RPT LC-III at all ports from Dahanu to Marmugao along and off Maharashtra-Goa coast,” they stated.

    The Indian Army has also mobilised teams to Maharashtra, which have been hit by torrential rainfall that triggered landslides and flooding in several districts of the state.

    The Army under ‘Operation Varsha’ has mobilised columns in action for flood relief in the state. A total of 15 relief and rescue teams comprising troops from Aundh Military Station and Bombay Engineer Group based at Pune have been deployed overnight in affected areas of Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Sangli districts of the state.

    The Army said based on the request by the civil administration it has mobilised flood relief and rescue teams to assist the local administration in flood-affected areas- in the districts of Ratnagiri, Raigad, Pune, Satara and Kolhapur and Sangli.

    The Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy based on requests received for assistance from civil authorities has deployed a total of seven Naval Flood Rescue Teams (FRT) from Mumbai to Ratnagiri and Raigad districts.

    Also, Maharashtra Coast Guard has pressed two disaster relief teams (DRTs), one each Mahad and Chiplun, besides pressing a helicopter into rescue operations. “These teams are working in tandem with the local administration and have rescued 52 people so far and shifted them to safe locations,” the Coast Guard said.

    The Coast Guard has extended the facility of its airbase at Ratnagiri to Indian Navy and Indian Air Force aircraft to operate from this base for rescue and relief operations in Maharashtra.Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday announced ex-gratia of 5 lakh each for the kin of those who lost their lives in the landslides caused by torrential rainfall in various parts of the state.

    According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the state will also incur the costs of treatment for those injured. “CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has announced Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of those who lost their lives in the landslides caused by torrential rainfall. The state will also incur the costs of treatment for those injured,” CMO wrote in a tweet.

    Earlier on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted intense to very intense rain in Mumbai, Palghar, Thane, and Raigad districts.

    Navi Mumbai and Thane have been put on Orange alert, while Mumbai is on Yellow alert.

    Meanwhile, traffic on the South Western Railway (SWR) route continues to remain affected for the second consecutive day on Saturday, a day after two landslides occurred on the Goa-Karnataka border besides the derailment of a train in the section, an official said.

    The landslides took place on Friday morning in the ghat (hilly) section of Hubballi division of SWR- between Dudhsagar and Sonaulim, and between Caranzol and Dudhsagar.

    A senior official of the SWR said that a train running between Mangaluru Junction and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai, which had been diverted from the Konkan Railway route due to overflowing Vashishti river near Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, derailed on the SWR’s Dudhsagar-Sonaulim section in Goa on Friday morning.

    “The engine and the first general coach derailed. But no passenger was reported to be injured,” he said.

    Due to this, the train traffic on the route is yet to resume, he added.

    Another train, Hazrat Nizamuddin-Vasco Da Gama that was travelling towards Vasco town in Goa was detained between Caranzol and Dudhsagar in Goa, the SWR said in a statement.

    The SWR said it had already taken several contingency measures before the start of the rainy season.

    These measures were taken at suitable stations for any exigency in the ghat section during heavy rainfall, it said.

    “As part that, JCB and other machines, and wagon loaded with boulders were kept ready at Castle Rock, Tinaighat and Kulem. They have been pressed into service to the spot of landslide along with the tram of trained technicians to carry out restoration of track/train services at the earliest,” the SWR said.

    Vasco railway police inspector Rajan Nigale said that the three scheduled trains on the SWR have been diverted/cancelled or diverted for a day though the debris on the track has been cleared.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Maharashtra govt announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for kin of those killed in landslides

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Friday announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the kin of people who have died in landslides triggered by heavy rains in different parts of the state.

    A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office here said, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who announced the financial assistance, also expressed grief over the loss of lives.

    The statement said landslides have been reported in ten places – Poladpur (2 incidents) and Mahad (1) talukas of Raigad district, one each in Khed in Ratnagiri district, Mirgaon, Ambeghar, Humbhrali, Dhokwale villages in Patan taluka and Kondvali, Mojhejor villages in Wai taluka of Satara district.

    ALSO READ | 71 killed in landslides, rain-related incidents in Maharashtra

    The injured will be treated in hospitals at government expense, the statement said, without disclosing their figure.

    An official in the CMO said as per information received here, 42 people have died in Raigad district and two in Satara district in separate incidents of landslide.

    Heavy rains since the last two days have caused massive floods in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Thane, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts.

    Earlier in the day, Thackeray visited the disaster management authority control room in Mantralaya (state secretariat) in south Mumbai and took stock of the situation arising out of downpour and flooding in Konkan and western Maharashtra.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Evacuation of people from hilly areas of rain-ravaged Konkan underway: CM Uddhav Thackeray

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said people residing in hilly and landslide-prone areas of the rain-ravaged Konkan region are being evacuated and expressed grief over the loss of lives in a landslide in Raigad district.

    He appealed to people to cooperate with the local administration in the evacuation process in vulnerable areas in the coastal region, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.

    Thackeray asked people to be alert in the backdrop of the IMD forecasting heavy rains in the next two days in several parts of the state.

    He said the local administration should work in coordination for smooth relief and rescue operations in the rain-devastated areas.

    ALSO READ | Maharashtra rain fury: 36 people killed after landslide in coastal Raigad district

    The chief minister visited the disaster management authority control room in Mantralaya (state secretariat) in south Mumbai and took stock of the situation arising out of downpour and flooding in Konkan and western Maharashtra.

    Thirty people have died in a landslide near a village in coastal Raigad district of Maharashtra, police said on Friday.

    Heavy rains since the last two days have caused massive floods in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Thane, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts.

    Due to discharge of water from the Koyna dam in western Maharashtra, an alert has been sounded in Sangli and Kolhapur districts.

    The chief minister asked the authorities to ensure distribution of food, water, medicines and clothes to the people displaced by floods and heavy rains, the statement said.

    He said the flood-affected districts of western Maharashtra top the list of coronavirus cases and rescue operations there should be done by adhering to COVID-19 protocols, especially use of face masks.

    As many as 14 NDRF teams have been deployed in the affected areas, the chief minister said.

    Unprecedented flooding in some part of Maharashtra that caused the death of more than 70 people in various incidents.38 deaths at Taliye landslide12 deaths Ambheghar Satara11 deaths Polandpur Raigad8 deaths Covid centre2 deaths Wai Satara @NewIndianXpress #flooding
    — Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) July 23, 2021

    He said 500 people have been rescued in Chiplun in Ratnagiri district and four relief centres have become operational in the coastal town, around 250km from Mumbai.

    Also, 22 people stranded on the Kolhapur-Panhala road due to incessant rains have been rescued, the CM added.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Coordinate with police on shooting schedules in Mumbai: Uddhav tells film producers

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday asked film and television producers, who demanded an extension of the duration of shootings beyond the 4 pm deadline, to coordinate with the police about the place and timing of their shooting schedules in and around Mumbai.

    Addressing members of the Film Producers Guild virtually, the CM told them to ensure that regular COVID-19 detection tests are conducted, guidelines followed, and vaccination of cinema artists and workers is expedited.

    Filmmakers Rakyesh Om Prakash Mehra, Ritesh Sidhwani, Nagraj Manjule, Subodh Bhave, Ravi Jadhav among others participated in the meeting, also attended by Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale and members of the state COVID-19 task force.

    The Guild sought an extension of the duration of shootings beyond 4 pm and assured that they would continue to follow the COVD-19 norms, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a statement.

    The CM told them that Maharashtra is among the states where the number of new infections is not coming down.

    Despite a bio bubble system for sports events, there is a spread of coronavirus, the release quoted the CM as saying.

    Thackeray said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government is treading cautiously on relaxing the restrictions as the primary concern is the welfare and health of citizens.

    “Mumbai Police will seek details of the shooting locations and timings. A nodal officer should be appointed to ensure all COVID-19 rules are followed,” the CM said.

    Maharashtra on Friday reported 7,761 new COVID-19 cases and 167 deaths which took the state’s infection tally to 61,97,018 and the death toll to 1,26,727, as per the health department.

  • ‘Uddhav government united, strong’: Ajit Pawar plays down Patole’s remarks

    By PTI
    PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said that despite some statements made by state Congress chief Nana Patole, the latter’s colleagues Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan have clarified that the MVA government in the state was strong and working unitedly.

    Queried on whether Patole’s recent remarks pointed to lack of unity in the ruling dispensation, Pawar said such statements are made in closed-door meetings to boost the morale of party workers.

    “Even if such statements were made, other Congress leaders like Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan have clarified that the (MVA) alliance is strong and we all are working together. Even Patole echoed similar sentiments later,” he said, adding that the entire Congress party was working as one under the leadership of its chief Sonia Gandhi.

    Pawar refuted media reports that he had discussed this issue with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and also rubbished others which said the Zoting Commission report had indicted BJP-turned-NCP leader Eknath Khadse in a land deal.

    He added that the state government had not received the Zoting Commission report as yet.

    Asked on the BJP-ruled Pune Municipal Corporation passing a resolution to draft a development plan for 23 villages merged into it recently, Pawar said the PMC could take such a decision but it was for the state government to decide whether the DP will be made by the civic body or the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

    The state government had recently issued a notification appointing PMRDA as the “planning authority” for the 23 villages.