NEW DELHI:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the loss of lives in a landslide in Maharashtra's coastal Raigad district and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased.
The Maharashtra government on Friday announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the kin of people who have died in landslides triggered by heavy rains in different parts of the state.
A statement from the Chief Minister's Office here said, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who announced the financial assistance, also expressed grief over the loss of lives.
An official in the CMO said as per information received here, 42 people have died in Raigad district and two in Satara district in separate incidents of landslide.
Modi said the situation in Maharashtra due to heavy rains is being closely monitored and assistance is being provided to the affected.
The incident occurred near Talai village in Mahad tehsil on Thursday evening.
"Anguished by the loss of lives due to a landslide in Raigad, Maharashtra. My condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. The situation in Maharashtra due to heavy rains is being closely monitored and assistance is being provided to the affected," the prime minister said.
Prime Minisgter Modi has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to a landslide in Raigad, Maharashtra, according to a tweet by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The PMO said Rs 50,000 would be given to the injured.
The chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, has confirmed the death toll. Rescue operation is underway at many places. "I have ordered the evacuation and relocation of people who are living in areas where there is a possibility of landslide," he said.
NDRF and other rescue teams are facing problems reaching to the flood-affected areas in Chiplun as the roads and bridges are damaged. The situation remains tense, said Thackeray.
The toll in the incident near Talai village in Mahad tehsil is likely to rise, police said, as many areas of Maharashtra continued to face rain fury since the past few days.
"Bodies have been recovered from the landslide spot. Locals say more people are feared trapped," and official said.
Earlier, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also condoled the loss of lives.
"Saddened by the loss of lives due to landslides following heavy rains in Raigad, Maharashtra. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said in a tweet.