Death toll from heavy monsoon rains in India climbed to 76, with nearly 90,000 others evacuated. Torrential downpours have lashed India's western coast in recent days, leaving dozens missing near the commercial capital Mumbai and precipitating the worst floods in decades in the resort state of Goa.
More than half of the deaths occured in hard-hit Raigad, where a total of 44 bodies were retrieved from the debris till now from two locations. Thirty five injured are under treatment. Landslides occurred in six locations in Raigad, said Raigad District Collector Nidhi Chaudhary. "Rescue operation still continues at one location. According to officials and staff present at the spot, around 50 more people are feared trapped under the debris," Chaudhary said.
"So far eight patients have arrived at J.J. Hospital. All of them are stable," said JJ Hospital Medical Superintendent.
also read
- Is 'NM' for Narendra Modi? Congress raises suspicion over Navi Mumbai airport name
- Why Pradnya Satav of Hingoli joining the BJP is a major blow for Congress in Maharashtra
- Eknath Shinde's brother linked to Satara drug factory? Congress alleges massive cover-up
- Inside the plans for Mumbai's new central park: a city forest, international sports complex and more
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will visit the flood-affected Mahad by helicopter on Saturday. He will also visit the flood-hit Taliye village during his visit. Incessant rainfall has caused landslides in Taliye with many houses being destroyed.
The Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy has mobilised resources to provide assistance to state and district administrations of affected areas in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa that are reeling under flooding of both urban and rural areas due to incessant rains. On civil authorities' request, seven Naval Flood Rescue Teams from Mumbai were deployed to Ratnagiri and Raigad. One Seaking 42C Helicopter from Mumbai has been deployed for aerial reconnaissance at Poladpur/Raigad. One ALH helo from Goa positioned at Ratnagiri for relief/rescue.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been engaged in rescue and relief operations in flood-affected Kolhapur. A large number of goods vehicles stranded on Kolhapur Highway, as vehicular movement has been halted due to floods in Kolhapur.