New Delhi: At least six people died and 23 are reported missing after Tiware dam in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra breached late Tuesday night, as a result of incessant rains leading to flood-like situation in downstream villages. As per the local villagers 23 people are still missing, agencies reported.

According to police, the Tiware Dam which had started overflowing around 8 p.m. following heavy rain, reportedly breached soon after.

As the water gushed out in a flood-like situation, at least seven villages downstream were inundated, a dozen homes washed away and around two dozen people have been reported missing.

The dam breach caused a flood-like situation in seven downstream villages, with as many as 12 houses being swept away.

Search operations are underway, the official said

Teams of the fire brigade and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Pune and Sindhudurg, besides volunteers from nearby areas, have launched rescue operations on war footing. Top civic and police officials have rushed to the disaster spot.

The dam was built in 2000 and people in the area claim they had informed the district authorities of its leakage two years back but no repairs were carried out.

Large parts of Maharashtra have been battered with heavy rain in the past five days, and on Tuesday at least 40 people were killed in rain-related incidents across the state.

(with inputs from agencies)