Mumbai: Officials said the flood situation remained severe on Wednesday after continuous rains in Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, affecting about 51,000 people and 200 villages and submerging over 340 bridges.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the flood situation in various parts of the state and directed the officials concerned to make adequate arrangements for food, drinking water and other essential items for the affected people.
A defence spokesman said five Navy rescue teams were mobilized to provide assistance to those affected by heavy rains in Kolhapur and Sangli.
Kolhapur deputy collector Sanjay Shinde told PTI, “Out of a total of 1,234 villages in Kolhapur, 204 villages have been affected due to the floods. A total of 11,000 families, including about 51,000 persons, affected about 51,000 people and 15,000 shifted to safer places. Are done. ”
“Apart from this, 342 bridges have gone underwater and are closed for vehicular movement. 29 state highways and 56 main roads have also been closed. Mumbai-Bengaluru National Highway No. 4 and Kolhapur-Ratnagiri Highway (Mumbai -Part of Goa). National Highways) is still closed, “he said.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed to assist the affected people, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said, adding that the Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard were also engaged in rescue and relief efforts.
Over 45 boats have been deployed for the evacuation operations, he said.
“In response to the request of the state administration to the local population affected by the heavy rains in the area, five teams of Western Naval Command have been mobilized,” the defence spokesman said.
The rescue teams, along with diving equipment, were flown from INS Hansa Naval air station at Goa on Wednesday morning for Kolhapur airfield, he added.
Pune’s Divisional Commissioner Deepak Mhasekar said on Tuesday that the flood situation in Kolhapur and Sangli was “grim” as several rivers in the area were flowing above the danger mark.
“Three villages with 7,000 people in Kolhapur have been completely cut off and efforts are on to evacuate them,” Mehasekar said.
The administration of Kolhapur and Sangli has declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Wednesday.
(With PTI Inputs)
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