Raigad landslide: 57 still untraced, search op called off in Irshalwadi; Section 144 imposed

While rescue personnel, including officials of the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF), were at Irshalwadi till 5.30 pm Sunday, the decision to call off the operation from Monday was taken after a meeting by the local administration.

Guardian Minister of Raigad district, Uday Samant, said that the authorities considered the unidentifiable condition in which the last body was found on Saturday and hence a decision was taken to call off the search, with the consent of surviving family members.

The district officials have also imposed orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code that will be in effect till August 6. Samant said that this prohibition will be applicable to trekkers and tourists who visit the Irshalgad fort, near Irshalwadi village.

Samant said that based on the data available with the local administration, the population of the village was 228. After the landslide, 144 persons were counted as rescued or not present at the village during the landslide. He said that 27 bodies were found in the past four days and hence 57 can be considered missing.

“We have verified with the surviving family members and other relatives of those living in the village. It can be said that 57 persons remain untraced and it is likely that they are buried under the debris,” Samant said. He added that two of the 43 families had no survivors.

On Sunday, those rescued from the village were shifted from a local school to a temple near Chouk. Samant said that a place near Diamond Petrol Pump was identified to set up containers for the temporary rehabilitation of those rescued, while clothes and food were being provided to those rescued. He added that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had a discussion with officials of City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and that the town planning authority will be in-charge of the rehabilitation of the 144 Irshalwadi residents by building them homes.

“The government will make efforts to complete the process for the permanent rehabilitation of these residents on a war footing. They will be given homes at the earliest. Efforts will be made to ensure that this does not take 1-2 years but is done soon,” Sawant said.

A discussion will be held with the local authorities on the rehabilitation of 22 children orphaned in the incident, the minister said adding, many children of the tribal families were away during the landslide as they study at residential ashram schools. Sawant said officials will examine whether the 22 children can stay with other relatives or should be rehabilitated elsewhere.

#Tragic#
Land-slide in Irsalwadi,Teh-Khalapur Raigad (MH) caused havoc. Approx 15-20 houses buried. NDRF on-site for rescue. Praying for survivors. #RaigadLandslide 🙏@ANI @sdmamaharashtra
@ndma @NDRFHq @PIBMumbai pic.twitter.com/qiExSmKH1L

— 5 NDRF PUNE (@5Ndrf) July 20, 2023

An official of the local administration said that a decision was taken to impose section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the village, prohibiting movement of people other than those involved in the relief work. A police officer said as the area is still risky with heavy rain continuing, the decision was taken to ensure no person goes to the village, including its residents, or tourists to the Irshalgad fort.

“There will be security around the area and the village has been cordoned off for visitors and locals,” the official said.

NDRF deputy commandant Deepak Tiwari said that in the past four days, over 100 of its officials were involved in the search and rescue operation. Officials said that the rescue teams faced challenges, including the heavy rainfall and the inability to take heavy machinery to the spot to clear the sludge.

At the press conference by Sawant on Sunday, he was asked about the pending rehabilitation of victims of the earlier landslide at Taliye village in Mahad in Raigad in 2021. Sawant said that the rehabilitation is expected to complete in the next 15 days.