16 killed, 1.32 lakh displaced in floods in western Maharashtra

The floods have been caused by heavy rain and opening of dams in the region, with Kolhapur and Sangli districts being the worst affected. Road connectivity to these areas has been cut off.

Floods continued to ravage parts of western Maharashtra on Wednesday, having claimed 16 lives and displaced 1.32 lakh people in the past week.

Residents of several areas in Kolhapur were rescued from their flooded homes using boats on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. (Anil Velhal / HT Photo)

The floods have been caused by heavy rain and opening of dams in the region, with Kolhapur and Sangli districts being the worst affected. Road connectivity to these areas has been cut off.

“Five districts in western Maharashtra are affected by floods and 16 people have lost their lives. The administration had shifted a total of 1.32 lakh people to safer places. District administrations and local urban bodies have established temporary shelters for the affected in urban areas,” said Dileep Mhaisekar, Pune divisional commissioner.

Navy teams reached Kolhapur from Goa to aid with air assistance and air-lifting affected residents to safety.

Mhaisekar said the divisional commissioner’s office is constant in touch with the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) and the irrigation department. Two senior officers from the irrigation department have been assigned to co-ordinate the release of water from dams to ensure the situation does not get any worse.

The weather bureau has predicted heavy rain in western Maharashtra till August 10.

Meanwhile, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a meeting with his cabinet and collectors from affected districts in Mumbai to review the flood situation. Fadnavis asked the water resources department to regularly share information on discharge from dams with the Railways and for an immediate survey of crop damages in flood-affected areas.