Maharashtra: Parts of Ratnagiri, Raigad inundated after heavy rains, 5 dead; Army, Navy teams deployed

Teams of the Army and Navy are assisting rescue operations in the floodhit Raigad and Ratnagiri districts of the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra the state government said on Thursday eveningAn Air Force helicopter too has been made available for rescue operations in Ratnagiri district said a statement from the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays office The chief minister was in constant touch with the local authorities it saidTeams 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 saidNDRF teams have been sent to western Maharashtras 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 informedChiplun Khed and some other towns in Maharashtras 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 ThursdayAn official said that two persons died due to a landslide near Parshuram ghat in the district during the day Major rivers in Ratnagiri district including Jagbudi Vashishti Kodavali Shastri Bav have been flowing above the danger level following heavy rains As a result of this Khed Chiplun Lanja Rajapur Sangameshwar towns and nearby areas have been affected and the government agencies are engaged in the task of shifting local residents to safer places the Maharashtra Chief Ministerrsquos Office CMO said earlierTalking to PTI over phone Transport Minister Anil Parab who is the district guardian minister of Ratnagiri said that road connectivity in parts of the district has been completely snapped due to heavy rains Chiplun town is completely inundated Similar situation prevails in Khed There is difficulty in reaching these places since all roads are closed Rescue teams from municipality Coast Guard Customs are using their boats to shift people from the low lying areas We have opened marriage halls school buildings so that the evacuated people can spend their night there he said Parab who is in Ratnagiri to monitor the rescue and relief operations said that National Disaster Response Force NDRF teams are unable to reach the spots due to unfavourable weather conditionsThe helicopters that are engaged in the operations had to go back The stranded people will be evacuated to safer places when choppers reach Till then we are providing food and water to the affected peoplerdquo he added The minister said that the region has been witnessing continuous rain and the water level of rivers is not showing signs of receding Ratnagiri collector told PTI that incessant showers led to an incident landslide in the district in which two persons were killedThe landslide near Parshuram ghat claimed the lives of two persons A rescue team has reached the spot to assess if there was any more damage Identification of the victims is being carried out Heavy rainfall and flooding on the streets have affected the communication in the region he said The flooding in Chiplun town has not claimed any life so far But we will be able to assess the damage to life and property only after the water recedes Patil saidA fiveyearold girl and two others drowned in rivers which swelled due to heavy rains in Maharashtras Raigad district flooding several towns an official said on ThursdayKundalika and Savitri rivers crossed the danger mark flooding several areas in Roha and Mahad respectively while water from Ulhas river entered Karjat city in the morning hours the official saidChief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday took a review of the situation arising out of the continuous downpour in these two coastal districts the chief ministerrsquos office CMO saidAlso Read Mumbai High tide hits Marine Drive amid rainfallAccording to district authorities a 50yearold man drowned in Savitri river in Mahad town while a 40yearold man and his daughter were swept away in Ulhas river in Karjat talukaSanjay Narkhede was fished out from Savitri river and was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead he said adding that Ibrahim Maniyar and his daughter Zoya of Damad village drowned in Ulhas and a search is underway for themDuring the review meeting Thackeray said the India Meteorological Department IMD has issued an alert of heavy rainfall in this region for the next three daysThackeray asked the authorities to remain alert and keep monitoring the levels of overflowing rivers and evacuate residents to safer places He also urged the local residents to take all necessary precautionsThe chief minister also took stock of the overflowing rivers in both the districts Meanwhile the CMO said that Mahabaleshwar a popular hill station in Satara district has received 480 mm rainfall in 24 hours due to which the water level of Savitri and other rivers was rising Earlier in the day train services on the Konkan Railway route in Ratnagiri district were suspended after a river overflowed following heavy rains in the area an official saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever