Maharashtra was struck by its biggest natural disaster this year. In the Khalapur tehsil, at the base of the Sahyadri range in Raigad district, a large landslide that was caused by more than 400mm of rainfall completely destroyed the remote tribal hamlet of Irshalwadi.
The rescue effort is being led by four teams from the 5th battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Pune under the direction of S B Singh. The place is not reachable by a motorable road.
Rescuers have found 27 remains, but it's thought that up to 100 people perished while they slept after being swept away by mud and rock rivers. There were 48 Thakur houses living in the hilly village close to Karjat who were reliant on farming, raising cattle, and farm work.
Officials said 88 villagers are believed to have survived. Karjat sub divisional officer Ajit Nairale said, “Houses of 18 families were damaged and seven others partly.” An incessant downpour slowed down rescue work and prevented excavators from being transported to the hilly site. Singh said, “The rescue operation was called off and will restart the next morning. There is no landing possibility to airlift excavation machinery using Air Force aircraft, given the hill terrain and bad weather…there is little chance of survival of the victims,whoever are trapped. The exact number of trapped persons still remains unclear.”
The dead include 12 adults and 4 children. NDRF teams rescued 21 villagers and some livestock including a bullock. Chief minister Eknath Shinde rushed to the site and later walked up to the landslide-hit zone to take stock. He said the administration was trying to trace all those missing; some of the children from the village were at residential schools while others were out for work. He announced an ex gratia of Rs 500,000 for the next of kin of the deceased and asked for shelters for the survivors.