159 Dead, 60 Missing as Incessant Rains Hit India’s Maharashtra

By Staff, Agencies

The death toll from flooding and landslides in India's Maharashtra state has swelled to 159 and hundreds of others have been left injured, while over 60 people are missing, state government officials announced on Monday.

Additionally, hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated since 21 July.

The Western Ghats have been overwhelmed by torrential rains since 21 July, with the India Meteorological Department [IMD] issuing a yellow alert.

The situation has worsened in the State's Raigad, Kohlapur, Palghar, Thane, Satara, Sangli, and Ratnagiri districts, after landslides and floods were reported on Thursday and Friday.

The National Disaster Response Force [NDRF], State Disaster Response Fund [SDRF], Indian Navy, and Indian Army have launched joint operations in these districts, evacuating hundreds of thousands of people.

The Indian army also set up a Central War Room to coordinate the three services for ongoing flood relief operations in Maharashtra.

"In Sangli, 196,957 people have been evacuated, while in Kolhapur, 145,930 have been taken to safe places and temporary shelters," the district authorities said, sharing figures on Sunday evening.

In Raigad, Mahad's Taluka [administrative district], villagers requested the calling off of a rescue operation on Monday for those who were trapped under the landslide, believing they must have died by now.

Maharashtra state Chief Uddhav Thackeray is expected to conduct an aerial survey of Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts on Monday.

On Sunday, Thackeray said that a relief package would be announced soon — and a separate force on the lines of the NDRF will be set up in vulnerable districts to guarantee a swifter response during natural disasters.

Last week, the Maharashtra government announced an ex-gratia payment of $6,717 each to the families of those who have died in landslides triggered by heavy rains in different parts of the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "anguished" by the loss of lives.

"The situation in Maharashtra due to heavy rains is being closely monitored, and assistance is being provided to the affected," he tweeted.