Joshi doubles relief to deluge victims in Maharashtra

Giving details on the casualties in the State, the Chief Minister said a total of 20 people had died in the torrential rains that lashed the state. He informed that over 32,192 victims of the deluge were evacuated to safer places all over the state. While two buildings had collapsed in Thane, 80 shops in the district had suffered losses upto Rs 20 lakh. Three boats had also capsized, he added.

Stating that the metropolis had experienced the highest rainfall of the decade on August 22-23, receiving 15 per cent of the annual rains on these two days, Joshi said that the government would rebuild the city roads devastated by the heavy downpour within 15 days. He lauded the entire administration for effectively handling the flood situation in the state.

Meanwhile,Godavari and Darna rivers in Nashik were in spate following heavy rains for the fourth consecutive day today. Twenty-five families from Saykheda village, about 25 kms from Nashik, were shifted to safer places following flooding of the region due to release of water from Gangapur, Darna and Palkhed dams. Mosam river in the powerloom town of Malegaon was in spate as water was released from Haran-Bari dam.

Normal life in Kolhapur district was affected for the fourth consecutive day today following intermittent moderate downpour, though its intensity had reduced since yesterday. All rivers including main Panchaganga, Bhogavati, Dudhganga, Vedganga, Warna and their rivulets were in spate and overflowing for the third time during the current monsoon season following rains and heavy water discharges from irrigation dams.

Traffic on Mumbai-Agra and Nasik-Pune roads was moving at a snail’s pace due to uprooting of trees coupled with flooding of roads and bridges at several places. Power supply and telecommunication network in many areas were affected due to rains. Both the officials of MSEB and Telecom department were working on a war-footing to rectify the faults.