Maharashtra witnessed a deadly landslide on Thursday while Himachal Pradesh saw flash floods, forcing governments to declare holidays for educational institutions. According to Indian Meteorological Department, states like Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Kerala are also likely to get widespread rainfall over the next five days.
Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed at Maharashtra's Raigad district were struggling to move earth-movers and excavators through the difficult hilly terrain of the area where a massive landslide occurred and the operation was being conducted manually, stated an official.
The landslide, which claimed twelve lives, occurred on Wednesday night in Irshalwadi village after heavy rains. At least 80 people were rescued but many are still feared trapped, according to reports. Around 17 of the 50 houses in the village were reportedly buried under the debris.
Take-off of two helicopters kept on standby for the search and rescue operation was hindered due to bad weather, the official added. Local authorities, fire brigade and some local trekkers were also reportedly involved in the rescue operation.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced holidays for schools in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts on Thursday.
Flash floods in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh's Kamru Panchayat witnessed flash floods that destroyed houses and vehicles and inundated horticulture and agricultural land while part of Shimla-Kinnaur National Highway-5 between Rampur and Jhakri was blocked by the flooded Broni stream, officials said. No casualties were reported.
Isolated places in the hilly state were issued a yellow warning of heavy rains till July 24 while low to moderate flash flood risk was predicted in Chamba, Mandi, Kullu, Shimla and Sirmaur districts.
Heavy rains in Telangana
Telangana witnessed torrential rains for the third day, forcing the state government to declare holidays for education institutions till Friday.
Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy tweeted, "Keeping in view of the heavy rainfall in the state and under the instructions of the Honourable CM, KCR Garu, the Govt has decided to declare holidays for two days to all education institutions in the state.”
According to IMD, isolated places in the state’s Adilabad, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Jagityal, Rajanna Sirsilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts were issued warnings for heavy to very heavy rains. Bhadrachalam district was on high alert amid fast-rising Godavari river water levels.
-- With PTI inputs