Maharashtra’s former chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday assured the survivors in the Irshalwadi landslide that his party would stand by them and help them in their rehabilitation, even as the toll in the natural calamity rose to 27.
“We will stand by you and work in tandem with you till you are rehabilitated. We are ready to extend you whatever help you need. If need be, we will approach the state government to seek rehabilitation of all the homeless villagers,” Uddhav told the families of survivors.
Interacting with the families of survivors whom he met at the local Panchayatan Temple where they have been temporarily accommodated in the wake of Wednesday’s landslide, Uddhav said:
“I would not let politics get in the way of my approaching the state government on your behalf. My only objective is that all the devastated families in your village are rehabilitated”.
The Sena (UBT) chief advised the landslide-hit villagers to exercise care and caution while choosing the rehabilitation spots that the government will soon allot them “The spots to be chosen should be away from hillocks or landslide- prone areas so to avoid any similar calamities in future,” Uddhav said.
Udhav also urged the state government authorities to construct houses for landslide survivors in Irshalwadi and also the people in natural disaster-prone areas across the state where the people live under the threat of natural calamities.
During his visit to Irshalwadi village, the former chief minister was accompanied among others by the Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, his party leaders Anil Parab, Bhaskar Jadhav and Milind Narvekar.
In a related development, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire brigade personnel from the nearby areas recovered five more bodies from under the landslide debris, taking the toll in the mishap to 27.
Though many villagers are feared trapped under the debris, hopes of rescuing trapped people from under the debris turned bleak.
The rescue teams, which suspended their operations on Saturday evening, will resume their work on Sunday morning.
Noted playback singer Anuradha Paudwal has announced that she would help construct homes for the Irshalwadi landslide survivors through her Suryoday Foundation, as per the government policy.
On his part, chief minister Eknath Shinde has offered to adopt all the minor orphans aged 2 to 14 years who have lost their parents or families through his son’s NGO, ‘Dr. Shrikant Shinde Foundation’.