As relentless rainfall persists in various parts of Maharashtra, causing waterlogging and floods, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts that are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. The districts of Thane, Raigad, Pune, and Palghar are among those where the red alert has been issued for July 21. In response to the alert, all schools in Thane and Palghar will remain closed on that day.
The decision to close all schools and colleges on Friday was taken by the Thane collector’s office, citing the heavy rain alert. Similarly, Palghar collector Govind Bodke and Thane counterpart Ashok Shingare also ordered the shutdown of educational institutions in their respective areas. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued for Mumbai and Ratnagiri, signaling the possibility of heavy rainfall in these regions. To ensure safety, residents of Thane have been advised to stay indoors due to the expected heavy rainfall in the district.
In response to the heavy rainfall in Palghar, a 23-member team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to handle emergency situations caused by the torrential rains. However, amidst the ongoing downpours, a tragic landslide occurred in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, resulting in the loss of at least 16 lives in a remote hilly tribal village. The incident took place overnight as heavy rains struck the area. The NDRF initiated a search and rescue operation to find survivors but had to suspend their efforts due to the continuous rainfall. Fortunately, they managed to rescue 21 individuals from the site.
The landslide occurred around 11 pm on Wednesday in Irshalwadi village, which is situated on a hill slope. The catastrophe led to the destruction of 17 out of the nearly 50 houses in the hamlet. The situation remains critical as Maharashtra continues to experience heavy rains, and authorities are working tirelessly to manage the effects of the ongoing monsoon.