There seems to be no relief in sight as heavy rains continue to lash several districts of Maharashtra. At least 136 people have died in rain-related incidents, including landslides and floods, in Maharashtra over the last few days, officials said on Saturday.
Several people died in the landslides across Raigad, Ratnagiri and Satara districts caused by incessant rains.
The IMD has issued a red alert for Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara and Kolhapur, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall
As many as 14 NDRF teams have been deployed in the affected areas, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said. Rescue teams of the NDRF, State Disaster Response Force and other agencies shifted people to safer locations by Friday evening, the officials said. Rescue teams are also evacuating stranded people using helicopters. More teams of the Indian Army and Navy will join the rescue work on Saturday.
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At least 84,452 people, including over 40,000 in Kolhapur district, were shifted to safer places in Western Maharashtra's Pune division, officials said
The Maharashtra government has, meanwhile, announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the kin of people who have died in landslides triggered by heavy rains in different parts of the state.
PM Modi condoled the loss of lives in the landslide in Raigad district and announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased.