Maharashtra Rains: Army, Navy Teams Deployed in Flood-hit Konkan; PM Modi Speaks to CM Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday took stock of the flood situation in Raigad and Ratnagiri, which have been battered by incessant rainfall since morning. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) later informed that teams of the Indian Navy and Army have joined the rescue and relief efforts in these two districts of the coastal Konkan region.

The CMO also said that an Air Force helicopter has also been made available for rescue operations in Ratnagiri district. The chief minister was in constant touch with the local authorities, it said. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Coast Guard, Navy and Army have been deployed in the region and the State Disaster Management Authority has begun rescue and relief operations, it said.

NDRF teams have been sent to western Maharashtra’s Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur districts too, the CMO added. Two teams of the force have been deployed in Shirol and Karvir tehsils of Kolhapur, it informed.

Taking note of the severe flood situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he discussed the situation with Thackeray and assured all possible help. “Spoke to Maharashtra CM Shri Uddhav Thackeray and discussed the situation in parts of Maharashtra in the wake of heavy rainfall and flooding. Assured all possible support from the Centre to mitigate the situation. Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being. @OfficeofUT.”

Following the predictions of (about heavy to very heavy rainfall) Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), flood situation had occurred in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Palghar and Thane districts in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Since many rivers in Raigad, Thane, Ratnagiri and Kolhapur districts are flowing at dangerous levels, NDRF, Coast Guard, Navy and Army squads have been deployed. The Disaster Management Department (DMU) informed that the state government has taken immediate measures to rescue the flood situation and provide help.

The NDRF units are also being deployed in Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts in view of possible flood situation in Pune division. Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters are carrying out relief and rescue operations in Ratnagiri district.

Since Kolhapur district has been experiencing heavy rains, most of the rivers in the district have crossed the warning level. NDRF’s 2 units have been deployed in the district for relief works in flood situations. One unit has deployed in Shirol taluka of the district and the other unit has reached Karveer taluka. 2 squads of 25 personnel each are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment like IRB boat, diving suit, necessary gears, life jacket, and rescue rope among other things.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister instructed officials to stay vigilant and start rescue operations immediately as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted very heavy rains for the next three days. A red alert has been issued for Konkan region.

“The IMD has given warnings of extremely heavy rainfall in the next three days & has issued a red & orange alert for the region,” he said. “Water levels in the rivers are constantly rising; hence citizens staying close by are advised to take adequate precautions & co-operate with the administration,” the CM added.

Chiplun, Khed and some other towns in Ratnagiri were inundated following heavy rains, with inclement weather and incessant downpour creating difficulties for the government agencies to carry out rescue operations in this district located in the Konkan region, a state minister said on Thursday. An official said that two persons died due to a landslide near Parshuram ghat in the district during the day.

Here Are Rain-related Updates:

• Inclement weather and heavy rains in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri are creating difficulties for the government agencies to carry out rescue operations in Khed, Chiplun, Lanja, Rajapur, Sangameshwar towns and nearby areas. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are unable to reach due to unfavourable weather conditions.

• In view of flood situation in Maharashtra, the discharge from Almatti dam has been increased from 90,000 cusecs to 1.30 lakh cusecs.

• Maharashtra’s Kolhapur recorded 93 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period that ended 8 am on Thursday. including a few state highways, have been shut for traffic as some of the stretches have gone under water as a result of incessant rains in the district over the past two days. Three district roads that have seen closure as the rainwater has submerged of the stretches. In several rural areas, the bridges have gone under water, due to the traffic movement has been shut. A few state highways going through the district have also been affected.

• Thunderstorms with lightning and light to moderate rainfall are very likely at many places in East Vidarbha. The IMD, in its latest update, has stated that thunderstorms with lightning and light to moderate rainfall are very likely at many places in Nagpur (Katol, Ramtek), Wardha (Hinganghat), Chandrapur and Amravati divisions during the day.

• Maharashtra disaster relief minister Vijay Wadettiwar has said that people are being rescued to safe locations in Chiplun, where choppers have been pressed into service. Coast guard personnel have been deployed too, boats are being used for rescuing local resident.

• Major flood in Konkan belt of Maharashtra, especially water level in Chiplun city is almost 5 feet. Konkan Railway route in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district was suspended temporarily.

• According to rail officials, 5,500-6,000 passengers were stranded in trains which were regulated at various stations on the Konkan Railway route. The Konkan Railway informed that due to the flood situation at Chiplun, so far nine long distance trains have been regulated. Out of these, the Dadar-Sawantwadi special train was regulated at Chiplun station and the CSMT-Madgaon Janshatabdi special train at Khed station.

• Four team of NDRF have been deployed in Mumbai, one each in Palghar, Thane, Chiplun (Ratnagiri) and two in Kolhapur.

• Mumbai residents woke up to a cloudy day on Thursday as continuous rains took a brief break after more than 24 hours. The IMD has however issued an orange alert for the day, indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall or thundershowers in the city and suburbs.

• The forecast also says that there is a possibility of extremely heavy downpour at isolated places.

• The weathermen said further that there is a possibility of occasional gusty winds reaching to 45-55 kmph gusting to 60 kmph. Amid the extreme weather, both Up and Down local trains are running late by 10-15 minutes due to point failure at Churchgate station.

• Videos of people wading through water also emerged as houses were seen half submerged in water in Bhiwandi.

• Heavy overnight rains in Mumbai and neighbouring areas led to flooding and washing out of some rail tracks in the Kasara Ghat near Mumbai and other areas and also caused mudslides and boulder crashes, severely affecting long distance and local train services, officials said on Thursday.

• According to railway officials, some long distance trains were held up at various locations and special buses were being arranged for the stranded train passengers.

• The Indian Navy teams are being prepared for deployment in Konkan region to carry out rescue operations as the flood situation has arisen due to heavy rains. The teams to leave for the Konkan region shortly.

• The Central Railways said that 33 trains have been diverted, 51 short terminated, 48 cancelled and 14 short originating due to heavy rainfall in Mumbai, leading to massive damage, track washouts, mud on tracks, waterlogging etc.

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