Maharashtra rain fury: Around 36 die after landslide in Raigad district

Around 36 people have died in a landslide near a village in coastal Raigad district of Maharashtra, police said on Friday.

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.

A team of NDRF has reached Mahad, around 160 km from Mumbai, and another will reach there soon, the official said.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is reviewing the situation, he added.