At least 29 persons were killed in flood-devastated Sangli, Kolhapur and three other districts of western Maharashtra on Thursday, even as the number of marooned people evacuated by the Navy, NDRF and other agencies in five districts of Pune revenue division crossed 2 lakh people.
On a day when the spectre of floods loomed over five districts of western Maharashtra, Sangli accounted for maximum 11 flood-related deaths, while Satara, Pune accounted seven, six and four deaths respectively. One rain-related death was reported from Solapur. The flood toll may go up further as “four to five” persons from a capsized boat in Sangli district are still missing.
As Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur, more number of more number of Navy, NDRF, Army, Coast Guard and other rescue teams joined the massive relief and rescue operations.
While a boat tragedy claimed at 14 lives in Sangli district, another four persons were killed in rain-related incidents in the neighbouring Kolhapur district.
An overloaded boat carrying “30 to 35 persons”, deployed by a gram panchayat, overturned in deep flood waters near Bramhnala village in Palus taluka of Sangli district, killing at least 12 persons. As many as 19 persons had been rescued in the mishap till the evening. The over-loaded boat lost balance during the course of its journey. Things complicated after water seeped into its engine and the boat capsized,” the Chief Minister said.
“We have recovered nine bodies — including that of seven women and one male child — from the capsized boat. Nineteen people from the overturned boat swam to safety. Four to five persons are still missing,” Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr Deepak Mahaisekar said. In effect, the authorities — taking into account “four to five” missing persons — are pegging the likely toll in the boat mishap in Sangli district at 14. In the neighbouring Kolhapur district, four persons were killed in rain-related incidents.
The various rescue and relief agencies shifted thousands of marooned people to safer places in the two western Maharashtra. “Till this evening, we have in all shifted 2,05,591 marooned people in Sangli, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune and Solapur districts during the last few days. In the worst-affect Sangli and Kolhapur districts, we have collectively shifted 1,77,421 people during the last three days,” Mahaisekar said.
In a heroic effort, the Army rescued 24 persons, including a pregnant lady stranded for more than 72 hrs at Kowad village in Kolhapur district. The Navy rescue teams are operating Gemini boats(rubber inflatable) which has a capacity to carry 7-8 people at a time to take marooned to safer places.
Chikhli village and Shivaji bridge at Kolhapur were some of the worst-affected areas where the naval teams rescued over 240 men, women and children on 07 Aug 19 and the operations continued throughout Thursday. Several hundreds more were rescued from Chikhli to safer areas at Sontali and Kolhapur. Some teams also operated in Aare village, Balinga Village and Rajapurwadi.
In a development that would help ease the grim flood situation in Sangli, Karnataka agreed to released 5,00,000 cusecs of water Almatty dam on Thursday. “Yesterday, Karnataka had released 4.5 lakh cusecs of water from Almatty dam. After I telephoned once again today, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa agreed to discharge 5 lakh cusecs of water from Almatty dam today. This discharge would help ease the flood situation in Sangli,” Fadnavis said during a briefing on the flood situation in the State.