Raigad Landslide: 12 Dead As Heavy Rains Pound Maharashtra. Bad Weather Hampers Rescue Ops

Fire brigade and some local trekkers were also helping in the rescue operation, he said and rescue teams from neighbouring Thane were also sent to the spot.

Search and rescue operation underway after a landslide at Irshalwadi village in Raigad district

Source : PTI

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday visited Irshalwadi village in Khalapur tehsil of Maharashtra’s Raigad district where a massive landslide claimed the lives of 12 people. The landslide took place at around 11 pm on Wednesday after heavy rains, around 80 kilometres from Mumbai, said an official. Shinde reached the site on Thursday morning and took stock of the situation. He also spoke to the personnel engaged in rescue operations, reported news agency PTI. 

Four teams of National Disaster Response Force with local authorities were engaged in the rescue work, said an official, and as per Raigad Police, 22 people have been rescued so far. Fire brigade and some local trekkers were also helping in the rescue operation, he said and rescue teams from neighbouring Thane were also sent to the spot, as per the report. 

Here are some top points on the incident. 

• "So far, 12 dead bodies have been recovered by search and rescue teams. As many as 103 people have been identified who were living there. Some of them were out for work in paddy fields and some children had gone to residential schools. Search for them is on," said CM Shinde. 
• The authorities were not able to move the machinery for rescue operations and two helicopters that were kept ready for operations were not able to take-off due to bad weather, he added. 
• Speaking regarding rehabilitation, the CM said 50 to 60 containers have been arranged for them (as temporary shelters) and there was a plan to move them to a safer place.
• Earlier, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that 48 families were living in the area. “The medical expenditure of the injured persons will be borne by the state government. We will announce a proper compensation for the kin of the deceased persons,” he said.
• "The situation is not very good in Raigarh. Rescue work is underway. There is continuous rainfall. Once the downpour will subside then the rescue work carried out by NDRF will become easy," said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray.