One dead, several feared trapped as Konkan, western Maharashtra reel under monsoon fury
The Hindu
Situation in Chiplun in Ratnagiri district especially dire; feared to be worse than the 2005 floods
Relentless showers over the last 24 hours pounded several parts of Maharashtra, particularly Chiplun and Mahad in the Konkan region and Kolhapur and Satara districts in the ‘sugar heartland’ of western Maharashtra, leading to a flood-like situation in several places in these parts on Thursday. According to reports, one person is believed to have died in a rain-related accident in Mahad city in Raigad, while the situation in Chiplun and Khed taluks (both in Ratnagiri district) is particularly dire, with more than 5,000 residents already moved to safer zones on high ground while efforts are under way on a war footing to rescue many more feared trapped inside their houses. According to sources, the Vashishti and Shiv rivers which course through Chiplun city began overflowing a little after 3.30 a.m. on Thursday with the discharge of waters from a nearby dam, taking residents by surprise as the snaking floodwaters began rising to alarming levels.More Related News