Mumbai: Heavy rainfall is likely to intensify further in several districts of the state. Citizens have been urged to strictly follow the official advisories issued by the administration from time to time.
The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) on Monday informed that teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been strategically deployed and kept on standby at key locations across the state as a precautionary measure.
For the monsoon season, 17 pre-positioned NDRF teams have been deployed across Maharashtra. Two teams each have been stationed at Palghar and Nagpur. One team each has been deployed in Pune, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli, and Dharashiv, while four teams have been stationed in Mumbai.
In addition, a total of six SDRF teams have been kept ready for deployment, with two teams each in Dhule and Nagpur, and one team each in Nanded and Gadchiroli.
Rainfall recorded includes 151.2 mm at Santacruz and 128 mm at Colaba in Mumbai. Other significant rainfall figures include 670 mm at Lonavala, 537 mm at Ambona, 580 mm at Tamhini, 266 mm at Bhivpuri, 305 mm at Vibhag, 275 mm at Nilshi, 230 mm at Mulshi, 302 mm at Matheran, 291.5 mm at Karjat, 182.5 mm at Panvel, 325 mm at Juhu Airport, and 188.5 mm at Bhayander.
Due to extremely heavy rainfall in Matheran, Lonavala, Khopoli, and Lohagad, the risk of landslides has increased considerably. A Red Alert has been issued for these areas, said the State Emergency Operations Centre.
Rescue operations are being carried out in continuous coordination with the district administrations and the National Disaster Response Force. The State Emergency Operations Centre is also using the GEO-DSS (Geographic Information Systems Decision Support System) to conduct detailed risk and vulnerability assessments and to disseminate timely alerts.
Traffic on the Mumbai–Goa National Highway has been suspended following a landslide at Kashedi Ghat. The old highway at Khopoli has also been closed due to waterlogging.
On the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, traffic in both directions has been suspended after a landslide on the Missing Link stretch. Railway services between Monkey Hill and Thakurwadi have also been suspended due to landslides, resulting in the closure of the Pune-Mumbai railway line. Work to remove debris and restore both road and rail traffic is underway on a war footing.
At Ghorawadi in Maval Taluka (Talegaon Dabhade), a bus carrying 25 passengers was stranded in floodwaters. An NDRF team was deployed, and all passengers were rescued safely.
At Patan in Maval Taluka, a house has been buried under a landslide, and three to four persons are feared trapped beneath the debris. An NDRF team has been dispatched to the site, and rescue operations are in progress.
In Mankhurd, a building collapsed onto a slum settlement, resulting in the death of six persons and injuries to one person. Rescue operations are continuing, and the administration is closely monitoring the situation, the State Emergency Operations Centre said.
(IANS)
