INDIA. Mumbai: The torrential rains lashed nearly all the regions of Maharashtra, affecting many districts due to cloud bursts with the incidents of boat capsize reported from coastal Raigad and Ratnagiri districts in the last two days.
A five-cylinder capacity mechanized vessel was drowned in Dapoli taluka of Ratnagiri, on Tuesday. The crew made separate attempts to save the vessels but they could not succeed since gusty winds prevented rescue attempts.
Similarly, a mechanized vessel from Mirakarwada of Ratnagiri broke into pieces and was eventually drowned on Monday. However, the crew managed to escape. The vessel that was on its way to Bhagawati Port drifted due to gusty winds and hit the break water wall. As the water gushed in, the crew jumped into the sea and swam to the shore.
Also in Guhagar in Ratnagiri, a 150 feet long vessel belonging to the Larsen and Toubro drifted ashore creating panic among local people. The vessel was deployed for the Reliance Gas Pipeline Limited (RGPL). Subsequently, Maharashtra Maritime Board Officer Sanjay Ogalmogale clarified that the vessel being used for transporting equipment, was drifted and there was no loss of life and the people should not worry about it.
Since there was heavy damage in Chiplun in the same district, an NDRF has already reached for rescue operations. The Chiplun town has been receiving unprecedented rainfall since Monday. In Dapoli town several areas including Kelkar Naka, Shivaji Nagar, and Bharat Nagar were inundated and the water level rose 4 feet to 5 feet throwing normal life out of gear.
The heavy rain also battered the Jalna, Beed, Nanded and Parbhani districts (Marathwada), Jalgaon (North Maharashtra), Akola (Vidarbha), and Ahmednagar (Western Maharashtra). The deluge was witnessed in these districts following the cloud burst. The Godavari river was in spate. Besides, many local rivers were overflowing. In Jalgaon, all medium-capacity dams were overflowing submerging many areas.
In Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, several areas were flooded due to heavy rains and the vehicular traffic was diverted. In the meanwhile, the weather bureau has forecast heavy rains for the next two days.
