12 dead due to landslide in Irshalwadi village in Khalapur, Raigad

103 people rescued !

30 to 40 houses submerged !

Compensation of ₹5 lakh announced for the kin of the deceased !

Khalapur landslide (Credit : Pune Now)

Khalapur (Raigad, Maharashtra) – A large rock slid down from the mountain over the Irshalwadi village at the foothills of Irshalgad fort on the upper side of the Morbe dam area. The mishap took place between 11:30 and 12:00 in the night and 30 to 40 houses were buried along with residents. This includes men, women, and children as well as pets. 12 people died and some were injured in this accident. Injured are undergoing treatment in various hospitals. 103 people have been rescued so far, while 70 to 80 people are still missing.

The rescue operation is underway since midnight. Some villagers were returning home after fishing at 10.30 p.m. At 11 p.m., they noticed that a part of the mountain was caving in. Just about then, some houses got buried under the soil. Police, ambulance administration, MLA, minister, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and fire brigade squad reached the spot. The road leading to the spot is very slippery, and due to heavy rain and fog, it is very difficult to reach the spot.

CM visited the accident site at Irshalwadi and consoled the villagers !

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the accident site at Irshalwadi in Khalapur Taluka of Raigad District and met the villagers and consoled them. The CM also reviewed the rescue operations. Raigad Guardian Minister Uday Samant and Public Works Minister Dada Bhuse were also present along with the CM. The Government has announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakhs to the kin of the deceased.

We were forced to build houses near the foothills as our homes were demolished by forest department, villagers allege !

The villagers of Irshalwadi had gone to build huts within the forest department limits. However, those huts were demolished by the forest department and the villagers went back to live in the houses and disaster ensued, he said. Had it not happened, our houses would have been spared. It was raining heavily, but we had not received any evacuation advisory or orders from the Administration or Government owing to potential mishap.

Bala Nandgaonkar of MNS said that a case of murder should be registered against those who demolished these houses.

Villagers were asked to migrate ! : Sarpanch Ritu Thombare

Ritu Thombare, Sarpanch of Irshalwadi

Ritu Thombare, Sarpanch of Irshalwadi, said, ‘The villagers were asked to migrate from the spot considering heavy rains and the village at the foothill. They were already requested by the Gram Panchayat administration to give a proposal for a new place. The whole area is at a high altitude and far from the main village. So, we had already appealed to everyone to come to live near the village’.