Several people were stranded in floodwaters after heavy rains inundated a village in Maharashtra’s Dharashiv district, prompting Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to order immediate evacuation efforts, news agency PTI reported.
The downpour caused flooding in Sakhat village, located in Paranda taluka, cutting off the area and trapping at least 12 residents, according to a statement from Pawar’s office on Monday.
In a phone conversation with Dharashiv District Collector Kirti Kiran Pujar, the deputy CM instructed authorities to rescue those stranded and relocate them to safer areas without delay, reported PTI.
Pawar also directed the deployment of a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team to the site and ordered preparations for helicopter support if needed.
Reviewing the overall rain situation across the state, he said the government is closely monitoring conditions in several districts affected by heavy downpours, PTI reported.
The deputy CM also urged district administrations, disaster management agencies, and local bodies to remain vigilant and ensure timely evacuations in vulnerable areas.
The NDRF and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams should remain on standby to carry out relief and rescue operations, Pawar stated.
“The state government stands firmly with citizens during this crisis. Farmers and affected families will receive all necessary assistance,” he assured.
IMD issues yellow alert for Mumbai, Palghar and Thane as rains lash parts of state
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a yellow alert for Mumbai, Palghar and Thane districts in Maharashtra as heavy rains lashed parts of state.
The weather bureau has predicted thunderstorm, accompanied by lightning, heavy rainfall and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) at isolated places in Mumbai.
A similar prediction was made for several parts of Maharashtra, including Thane and Palghar districts.
Meanwhile, an orange alert was issued for Nashik, Jalgaon, Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Ahliyanagar districts, predicting “heavy to very heavy rainfall
and thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds at isolated places”.
Earlier in the day, the weather department, in its Mumbai weather updates, had predicted that Mumbai city and its suburbs were expected to witness a partly cloudy sky today, with the possibility of moderate rainfall.
IMD had also warned of isolated thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, urging residents to remain cautious, particularly during peak travel hours.
(With PTI inputs)
