Six villagers and a rescue team member were killed when a portion of a 550-metres hillock crashed on a large part of the Irshalwadi tribal village near Khalapur in Maharashtra's Raigad district, officials said here on Thursday.
The incident happened late on Wednesday. Around 10 persons were rescued from the slush and stone while another 80 people are still feared trapped with a massive rescue operation on a war-footing mounted to rescue them.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde rushed to the tragedy spot -- around 100 kms from Mumbai -- and monitored the situation, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was stationed at the State Disaster Management Centre.
According to state government officials, the disaster occurred around 11.45 p.m. on July 19 when the region was lashed by torrential rain.
A portion of the tall hillock, over 550 metres high, under which the tribal village nestled, suddenly crashed on Irshalwadi, crushing an estimated 30-40 hutments and trapping the residents in them.
According to Pawar, the Irshalwadi village population was 228 of which more than 100 people have been affected by last night's tragedy.
On learning of the disaster, Raigad district administration and police, SDRF, NDRF teams rushed to the spot and launched a massive rescue operation as rains continued.
The hilly terrain with huge boulders and stones scattered hampered the rescue teams who could work only with hammers to save the people as the clock ticked away.
This morning Shinde reviewed the situation and in view of the difficulties encountered in the hazardous terrain as cranes and heavy machinery cannot be taken there for the rescue operation. He said two helicopters would be deployed for the rescue mission.
Pawar said that while choppers are ready for the mission, they would not be able to land in the region due to the stormy weather conditions.
Several ministers, police and civilian officials from different departments and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Panvel Municipal Corporation have also rushed to the site.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called up Shinde and took details of the tragedy, and has also offered any type of help as the state government may require.
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said that the rescue operation is being hampered on various counts but all efforts are underway to save the people trapped in the slush and stones.
Akhil Maharashtra Giryarohan Mahasangh President Umesh Zirpe said that around 60 mountaineers have joined the search and rescue operations there through the Maharashtra Mountaineers Rescue Coordination Centre (MMRCC).
"This hill with the Irshalgad Fort is a popular trekking point and the ill-fated Irshalwadi village was situated just below the rocky cliffs that crashed," Zirpe told IANS from Pune.
The IMD has issued Red or Orange alerts for districts of Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhdurg till Saturday as incessant rain continued to pound the coastal regions since Monday.
Shinde announced a compensation of Rs 5,00,000 to the kin of each deceased victim and treatment at government expense for the injured in the calamity.
Sushanta demanded Centre to start direct flight service along Agartala-Mumbai route
The state transport minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Monday met the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu in Delhi and discussed a series of issues related to the development of air services from Agartala MBB Airport.
CM Dr Manik Saha discuses development railway services and infrastructure in Tripura
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Monday met the General Manager (Construction) of North East Frontier Railway here in his chamber at the secretariat and discussed a series of issues related to the further development of railway infrastructure in the state and ease passenger movement.
State to get Rs 150 Crore for Tourism, Sushanta Meets Union Minister Shekhawat
The Central Government has sanctioned an additional ₹150 crore for the enhancement of Tripura's tourism sector, Tripura Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury announced on Monday.
CM to inaugurate 34 projects of Rs 250 Crore tomorrow
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various projects worth Rs 250 crore, comprising 34 projects, in Unakoti district tomorrow.
JP Nadda, BL Santosh arriving in state on March 9: CM Manik Saha
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today announced that BJP All India National President JP Nadda and National General Secretary (Org) B.L. Santosh will be arriving on March 9 to attend the two-year celebration of the present state government at Swami Vivekananda Maidan.
Two Bihar women held with cannabis at Agartala Railway Station
Acting on a tip-off, the Government Railway Police recovered 21 kg 65 grams of dried cannabis from two women at Agartala railway station. The estimated market value of the seized contraband is said to be over three lakh rupees.
UK PM announces new 1.6-billion-pound deal for Ukraine to buy missiles
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain will allow Ukraine to use 1.6 billion pounds ($2 billion) of British export finance to purchase more than 5,000 air defence missiles.
'PM Modi working for welfare of all communities without discrimination', says Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah Committee chief
Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah Committee Chairman Syed Afsar Ali Nizami on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attending the Sufi music festival 'Jahan-e-Khusro' and said that he gave the message of brotherhood and works for the welfare of all communities and religion without any discrimination.