1,000 evacuated as 17 dams overflow

All the district collectors in the state, especially in western Maharashtra and Konkan areas, have been put on a high alert and asked to conduct precautionary evacuations because of continuous rainfall for the third consecutive day. By Sunday, 17 of the 37 dams across the state were overflowing and 1,000 people were evacuated.

All the district collectors in the state, especially in western Maharashtra and Konkan areas, have been put on a high alert and asked to conduct precautionary evacuations because of continuous rainfall for the third consecutive day. By Sunday, 17 of the 37 dams across the state were overflowing and 1,000 people were evacuated.

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"We have opened up the dam gates to release water and have given evacuation alerts to prevent villages from being affected," said additional chief secretary (Relief and Rehabilitation), JS Saharia.

The Maharashtra disaster management cell said Bhatsa and Surya in Thane district, Mazalgaon in Beed, Bhandardara in Ahmednagar, Panshet, Pavana and Totladoh have gone past the overflow level. Around 590 people from Sangli, 160 from Satara and 300 from Pune district were evacuated. "Apart from dam water being released, the rainfall is causing the water outlet to choke, so they have to be moved," Saharia said.

Of the 16 fishermen who went missing on Saturday in Raigad district, six have returned. "The Coast Guard is on the lookout for the rest," Saharia added.