As the rain-ravaged Sangli, Kolhapur and three other flood-hit districts of western Maharashtra got into a relief-mode on Saturday, a staggering 4,13,945 flood victims have been moved to 535 temporary transit camps set up at various places and the authorities have engaged themselves in restoring power supply in 2,96,630 homes.
With some let up in rains, the Navy, Army, local authorities and various agencies shifted 1,28,684 more flood-affected people in Sangli, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune and Solapur to safer places during the day. “As many as 4,13,945 flood victims, whom we evacuated from the marooned areas during the last three to four days are now in 53t temporary transit camps,” Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr Deepak Mahaisekar said.
Teams of NDRF, Navy, SDRF, Territorial Army, social organisations and district authorities have been using as many 169 expandable rubber boats to shift marooned people in the worst-affected districts of Sangli and Kolhapur.
“The marooned are being shifted in 95 boats in Sangli, while we have pressed 74 boats into relief and rescue operation in Kolhapur district. A total of 302 medical teams have been moving around the flood-affected areas of Sangli, Kolhapur and Satara. Similarly, we are distributing food pockets, drinking water bottles, drugs, candles, milk powder and solar lights,” Mahaisekar said.
Briefing mediapersons at Sangli about the flood-situation in western Maharashtra, chief minister said that the main reason for the unprecedented floods in Sangli and Kolhapur districts was the phenomenally heavy rains that lashed the two districts during the past nine days.
“In 2005, Sangli registered 217 percent rainfall in 31 days, but this year this district has received 758 per cent rainfall in just 9 days. Similarly in 2005, the rainfall received by Kolhapur district was 159 percent in 31 days, while the quantum of rains received this year is 480 per cent in nine days,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis, who assessed the damage caused by the floods, said: “Nearly 27.468 hectares of land was destroyed. Roads of 484 km length was badly damaged in the floods,” the chief minister said. The Chief Minister said that the compensation to the kin of those killed in the floods had been increased from the earlier Rs 2 lakh per family to Rs 5 lakh per family, while the compensation to those families whose houses collapsed had been enhanced from the earlier Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh. “Similarly, we have decided to give a compensation of Rs 38,000 per hectare of agriculture field destroyed in the floods as against Rs 13,000 per hectares,” Fadnavis said.
The authorities are restore road connectivity in the flood affected areas. “As many as 203 roads and 94 bridges are still closed in the five districts of the Pune revenue division. In Sangli district, 29 major state highways and 37 district roads are closed, while 30 major state highways and 61 district roads have been closed in Kolhapur district. We are in the process of restoring them,” Mahaisekar said. Meanwhile, continuing their rescue operations in Kolhapur, the Navy teams rescued and shifted 1000 people including 600 women and 200 children to safety from Chikhali village by 14 Navy rescue teams. Food and water were also provided to 250 homes.
In Sangli today, 12 Navy rescue teams evacuated about 850 people to safety and distributed food and water to about 250 homes.
A total of 26 Navy teams with 110 personnel and 26 boats with life-jackets have been deployed in Kolhapur and Sangli so far. “The teams will continue to remain in the area till flood situation subsides and comes to normal. More naval teams will be deployed if required,” a defence spokesperson said.