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A search and rescue operation is underway after a landslide in Raigad district, Maharashtra state. (PTI)
While 10 people were killed in the landslide that occurred on Wednesday night, 90-100 residents are still trapped and more than 80 have been rescued.
Poor communication and lack of roads hampered rescue operations in Thakurwadi village in Raigad district which was hit by a landslide late on the night of 19 July, killing 10 people while 90-100 people are still trapped.
On Thursday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other ministers arrived at the village which is located at the base of Ershal Fort near the town of Khalapur in the state. Federal Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Shinde about the incident and gave full support to the centre.
Speaking to News18, Minister Aditi Tatkar said, “This tragic accident took place late Wednesday night, between 11 and 11:30 pm. The rescue operation cannot take place late at night as there is no proper road for this village for rescue vehicles to enter. The rescue team has to walk 1-2 km from the main road to reach the scene. Once the district administration received information about the accident, all possible and available forces were diverted to start the rescue operation.”
“Heavy rain, pitch dark at night and poor road connectivity were major obstacles in the rescue operation. However, we were able to dispatch 8-10 local rescue teams to the village after midnight. The NDRF teams reached the site at 3.30 am on Thursday and took charge of the rescue operations.”
According to official records, 42-45 families lived in the village. When the accident occurred, 10-15 young men managed to escape and reported the landslide to the authorities. So far more than 80 people have been rescued and moved to a safer place. Those with minor injuries are being treated at the rural hospital while those with serious injuries are taken to MGM Hospital in Banville where red and yellow zones have been created and 100 beds added to meet the needs of patients.
Aditi Tatkar said, “Unfortunately, this village was not included in the list of villages prone to landslides that are made by the district authorities every year. No warning was given to this village but other villages in the list were alerted. The state government announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the relatives Victims. CM Shinde also announced the free treatment of the wounded.”
Sunil Tatkar, an MP from Raigad constituency added, “The heavy machinery of NDRF and the local rescue team cannot reach the place as it is 700-900 feet high. If the weather becomes clear, the state government will also deploy helicopters to speed up the rescue work.”
Meanwhile, MP Supriya Soli said in a tweet that the state government should find and rehabilitate villages with dangerous sites. She asked the government to use the example of Malin village in Pune which faced a similar tragedy in 2013-14.
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