43 dead, 3 missing in Pune division as rain continues to batter Maharashtra

Eighty-five teams of National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Territorial Army, Indian Navy and Indian Army are currently deployed in Sangli and Kolhapur districts.

As many as 43 people died, while three remained missing on Monday in the Pune division as incessant rainfall continued to batter Maharashtra, an official statement said.

A statement from the Divisional Commissioner Office in Pune revealed that over four lakh people were evacuated from as many as 584 villages to safer places due to floods in the five districts of Pune division.

To cater the people who were rescued, 596 temporary shelter camps were also set up, the officials said.

ALSO READ: Death toll nears 200 in four flood-hit states, rescue operations intensify

"Forty-six villages of Pune division are still completely cut off due to floods. 105 units of different agencies along with 164 boats are still deployed in Kolhapur and Sangli district. 66 bridges of five districts are still closed due to floods and waterlogging," said the officials in a statement.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had, on Saturday, visited the flood-affected Kolhapur and Sangli, to take stock of the situation.

85 teams of National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Territorial Army, Indian Navy and Indian Army are currently deployed in Sangli and Kolhapur districts for rescue efforts.

Also, more than 300 medical teams are working in Sangli, Kolhapur and Satara districts.

Business Standard

Flood, landslide hit Kerala again a year after the worst flood in a century

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert in four districts, which are Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki and Malappuram.

Kerala Flood : A year after the state went through the worst flood in a century, Kerala is experiencing another serious flood situation, with many places inundated and landslides killing several in the Wayanadu district.

The Cochin International Airport has closed operations from Thursday night and has been announced to be shut till Sunday 3 pm.

The state government has announced the opening of 315 flood relief camps across the state, moving around 22,165 people from 5,936 families in the state till Friday morning. Wayanad has the most number of camps at 105, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The shutters of more than 12 dams were opened till Thursday night and the State Disaster Management Authority has said that water has been rising fast in these reservoirs.

ALSO READ: Kerala rain fury claims 4 more lives, over 22,000 moved to relief camps

Local reports said that at Meppadi in Wayanad, a huge landslide, reportedly carrying away almost 100 acres, has devastated the neighbouring locations and the number of people trapped under the debris is not known. Bridges and roads have also been washed away, blocking the rescue operations. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Defence Security Core, along with local authorities, have been deployed for the rescue there.

State authorities are forecasting heavy rainfall, with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph, to occur at one or two places in the Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.

High waves in the range of 3.2-3.7 meters are forecasted till 11.30 pm on Saturday along the coast of Kerala from Pozhiyoor in the south to Kasargod in the north, said the Chief Minister's Office, advising fishermen not to venture into these areas during this period.

Business Standard