Sangli boat tragedy toll touches 17; over 4.40 lakh evacuated
Relief operations continue as flood waters in western Maharashtra recede
12/08/2019, SHOUMOJIT BANERJEE,PUNE
Relief operations continue as flood waters in western Maharashtra recede
12/08/2019, SHOUMOJIT BANERJEE,PUNE
Long way back: Relief operations are on in Sangli and Kolhapur as water levels of the Krishna and Panchganga rivers still remain high.Jignesh Mistry
As floodwaters began noticeably receding nearly six days after torrential rain hit Sangli and Kolhapur districts in western Maharashtra, five more bodies were retrieved in the Sangli boat accident, taking the death toll in the tragedy to 17.
The total death toll in the past fortnight arising from flood or rain-related accidents across western Maharashtra is now up to 40, said authorities.
“Of these, 19 persons died in Sangli; 17 were killed in the boat accident while one person is still missing. Six persons died in Kolhapur with one missing in that district as well, while there have been seven rain-related deaths in Satara and Pune districts and one casualty in Solapur,” said Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr. Deepak Mhaisekar.
The boat accident occurred earlier this week when at least 30 persons commandeered a boat belonging to the Gram Panchayat of Brahmanal village, cut off by rising floodwaters, and attempted to remove themselves to safety on their own.
While nine bodies were recovered soon after the tragedy, three more were found on Friday and five more on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mhaisekar said a total of 4.41 lakh persons across the five flood-hit districts, including Sangli, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune and Solapur had been shifted to shelters.
Of these, 2.45 lakh from more than 50,000 families had been evacuated from Kolhapur, while 1.58 lakh from more than 29,000 families had been rescued from rising water levels in Sangli.
“Of the 2.45 lakh evacuated in these two districts, 1.19 lakh belong to the 42 worst-hit villages in Kolhapur and Sangli that were completely cut off by the floods. They are now housed in 305 temporary shelters,” he said.
Relief operations are still on in Sangli and Kolhapur as water levels of the Krishna and Panchganga rivers still remain high.
With evacuation and rescue operations nearly complete, NDRF teams and other relief agencies are now wading through the waters. They will be providing essential items to those who have chosen to remain in their residences.
As floodwaters began noticeably receding nearly six days after torrential rain hit Sangli and Kolhapur districts in western Maharashtra, five more bodies were retrieved in the Sangli boat accident, taking the death toll in the tragedy to 17.
The total death toll in the past fortnight arising from flood or rain-related accidents across western Maharashtra is now up to 40, said authorities.
“Of these, 19 persons died in Sangli; 17 were killed in the boat accident while one person is still missing. Six persons died in Kolhapur with one missing in that district as well, while there have been seven rain-related deaths in Satara and Pune districts and one casualty in Solapur,” said Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr. Deepak Mhaisekar.
The boat accident occurred earlier this week when at least 30 persons commandeered a boat belonging to the Gram Panchayat of Brahmanal village, cut off by rising floodwaters, and attempted to remove themselves to safety on their own.
While nine bodies were recovered soon after the tragedy, three more were found on Friday and five more on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mhaisekar said a total of 4.41 lakh persons across the five flood-hit districts, including Sangli, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune and Solapur had been shifted to shelters.
Of these, 2.45 lakh from more than 50,000 families had been evacuated from Kolhapur, while 1.58 lakh from more than 29,000 families had been rescued from rising water levels in Sangli.
“Of the 2.45 lakh evacuated in these two districts, 1.19 lakh belong to the 42 worst-hit villages in Kolhapur and Sangli that were completely cut off by the floods. They are now housed in 305 temporary shelters,” he said.
Relief operations are still on in Sangli and Kolhapur as water levels of the Krishna and Panchganga rivers still remain high.
With evacuation and rescue operations nearly complete, NDRF teams and other relief agencies are now wading through the waters. They will be providing essential items to those who have chosen to remain in their residences.
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