Page 106 - Maharashtra

1,000 evacuated as heavy rains create flood-like situation in Maha's Nanded

Nearly 1,000 people from Biloli tehsil in Maharashtra's Nanded district have been shifted to safer places as heavy rains created a flood-like situation in 12 villages, officials said on Friday. Rescue teams comprising revenue department personnel and others carried out the rescue operation from Thursday evening that continued till late night, a district administration official said. "Nearly 1,000 residents of 12 villages, including Harnali, Machnur, Biloli, Golegaon, Aarali, Kasarali, Belkoni, Kundalwadi and Ganjgaon, were moved to safety. There was a sudden increase in water level in these villages following rains, which created a flood-like situation," he said. People were shifted as water entered settlements and farms in these villages, he added. The rescued people were given temporary shelter in nearby Zilla Parishad-run schools or houses located in high-lying areas, the official said. Several local people also contributed to the rescue operation, he said.

Search, rescue op resumes on 2nd day at landslide site in Maharashtra

The rescue and search operation at Irshalwadi hamlet in Maharashtra's Raigad district, where a massive landslide buried several houses and claimed the lives of at least 16 people so far, resumed on Friday morning, an official said. The landslide occurred around 11 pm on Wednesday at the tribal village, situated on a hill slope, under Khalapur tehsil of the coastal district, around 80 km from Mumbai. Of the total 228 residents of the village, the bodies of 16 have been recovered, while 93 residents have been traced, he said. However, a total of 119 villagers are yet to be traced. They include those who had gone out of the village to attend a marriage or for rice plantation work, he said. Of the nearly 50 houses in the village, the landslide flattened 17, officials said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with teams of Raigad police and local authorities began the operation for the second day at the remote village, the official said. "At least four NDRF teams reached

Don't step out of homes unless necessary: Maharashtra govt urges people

In view of continuous downpour in parts of Maharashtra and heavy rainfall warning, the state government on Thursday issued an advisory, asking people not to step out of homes unless necessary. Mumbai received an average 100 mm rainfall in 24 hours till 8 am on Thursday, while neighbouring Thane city received a whopping 213.84 mm rainfall during that period. Some coastal districts, including Raigad and Ratnagiri, have been receiving incessant rainfall, officials said. A massive landslide at Irshalwadi village in Raigad district has claimed the lives of at least 10 villagers and many are still feared trapped, they said. "The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already issued a heavy rainfall warning for some districts in the state. There has been a downpour for the last two days as well. The citizens should not venture out unnecessarily," the government said in its advisory. It also said that people should avoid crowding at the landslide site in Irshalwadi.

Mumbai gets 100 mm rainfall in 24 hours, IMD predicts heavy rain in city

Mumbai received an average 100 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours and the weather department has predicted heavy to very heavy showers in the city and suburbs along with strong winds over the next one day. After a heavy downpour on Wednesday which caused water-logging in many low-lying areas and affected local train services, the rain intensity reduced early Thursday morning and there were no showers in some parts of the city. The country's financial capital received an average 100 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Thursday, a civic official said. The island city, eastern and western suburbs recorded an average rainfall of 95.39 mm, 96.70 mm and 110.45 mm, respectively, during the period. The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Mumbai centre has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the city and suburbs in the next 24 hours, with a possibility of occasional gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph, the official said. Railway authorities said local train services, ..

Maharashtra's Palghar district admin keeps NDRF on standby amid heavy rain

The district administration also instructed all the sub-divisional officers and tehsildars of the district to remain alert and not leave the headquarters, said the DMO

Raigad landslide: CM Shinde announces Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for victim's kin

Five persons died after a massive landslide at a village in Maharashtra's Raigad district, an official said on Thursday. While 75 persons have been rescued, many are still feared trapped, the official said. Four NDRF teams are engaged in rescue work, he added. The village has around 50 houses, of which 17 were buried under the landslide, the official said. The landslide followed torrential rains in the area. NDRF personnel recovered one body from the landslide spot, while four bodies were recovered by rescue teams earlier. The village is six km from Morbe dam, which supplies water to Navi Mumbai. Minister Uday Samant said those rescued have been admitted to a hospital in Navi Mumbai. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reached the site and spoke to personnel engaged in rescue operations. This village was not in the list of landslide-prone villages, he told reporters there. Our priority now is to rescue those still trapped beneath the rubble, he said. The landslide occurred around 11 .

As heavy rains batter Mumbai, Shinde visits BMC's disaster management dept

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday visited the Disaster Management Department at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters and reviewed the situation after heavy rains lashed the city and its adjoining areas. "In view of the continuous rains in Mumbai and the orange alert issued by the IMD, Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde visited the Disaster Management Department at BMC Headquarters and reviewed the situation. The Chief Minister appreciated the pre-monsoon works and various measures taken by the municipal administration," the BMC tweeted. Heavy rains lashed Mumbai and adjoining Thane and Palghar districts on Wednesday, disrupting suburban rail traffic and causing water-logging in low-lying areas from where people were evacuated.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs respond to Narwekar's notice on disqualification

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs have responded to the notice on disqualification issued by Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, party leader Anil Parab said on Tuesday. "We have responded to the notice within seven days as asked," Parab, who is a member of the legislative council, told reporters. On July 7, Narwekar had issued notices to 40 MLAs of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 14 from Shiv Sena (UBT). The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena has sought disqualification of 16 MLAs after 39 MLAs led by Shinde revolted against Thackeray's leadership last year.

Maha govt to set up detention centres for foreign nationals: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said in the state assembly that detention centres would be set up for foreign nationals indulging in drug peddling, overstaying their visa limit and committing petty crimes to evade deportation. The government has also decided to appoint Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) as the nodal agency to control the distribution of the banned drugs, he said responding to a question raised by NCP member Rohit Pawar. We have noticed that some Nigerians as well as other foreign nationals are involved in the supply of narcotics drugs. They overstay here violating the visa norms. To avoid deportation for such violation, they indulge in petty crimes and manage to stay here longer, said Fadnavis, who is also the state home minister. To prevent such practices, the Maharashtra government has decided to set up detention centres where these foreign nationals will be kept until their deportation. We have also decided to appoint the ATS as the nodal .

IMD issues orange alert for Maharashtra, warns of rain with thunderstorms

IMD issued an orange alert in Maharashtra; the met office foresees waterlogging and inundation in low-lying areas in the state due to heavy rainfall

MeT issues alert in Palghar, collector asks people not to go into lakes

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Mumbai has issued an 'orange' alert for Maharashtra's Palghar district, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places here over the next two days, the local administration said on Tuesday. In view of the forecast, Palghar Collector Govind Bodke on Tuesday issued an advisory asking citizens to remain extra cautious, remain indoors and not to venture into rivers, lakes and other water bodies, the district administration said in release. District Disaster Management Cell chief Vivekanand Kadam said the RMC Mumbai has issued a 'yellow' alert for Tuesday, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Palghar. For Wednesday and Thursday, it has issued an 'orange' alert, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places in Palghar district, he said in the release. The collector has advised citizens to avoid going out of the house, not to take shelter under trees, and not attempt to cross the flooded and overflowi

LIVE: US returns 105 trafficked antiquities at Indian Consulate in NYC

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

Three-week monsoon session of Maharashtra legislature begins today

It will be the first session after former Leader of Opposition and NCP leader, Ajit Pawar, broke ranks with his uncle, Sharad Pawar, who is also the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo

Sharad Pawar's NCP seeks sitting arrangement in Oppn benches in assembly

Chief whip of NCP (Sharad Pawar camp) Jitendra Awhad has written to the Maharashtra Assembly speaker seeking separate sitting arrangement for members of the Ajit Pawar camp and the rest of MLAs of the party for the legislature session beginning Monday. In a letter addressed to Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Sunday, Awhad said except for the nine MLAs- including Ajit Pawar- who have joined the government, the Nationalist Congress Party is part of the opposition. Except for the nine MLAs who were sworn in, the sitting arrangement for others should be made separately. The NCP is in the opposition and we want to sit in the opposition, Awhad stated. Narwekar had recently said there was no clear distinction between who is in power and who is not in the case of the Nationalist Congress Party. "There will be a lot of deliberations and arguments over how to decide who represents the actual NCP, he had said. When asked about Shiv Sena which had also witnessed a similar revolt last year, Narwekar

Oppn parties have lost hope, they are confused: Maharashtra CM Shinde

On the eve of the Maharashtra legislature's monsoon session, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday took a dig at the opposition parties, saying that they appear to have lost hope and are confused. Addressing a press conference at the Sahyadri guest house here, Shinde said the opposition parties in the state are hardly seen anywhere and one has to look for them. The monsoon session of the state legislature will begin on Monday. Opposition parties - the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar group) - on Sunday boycotted the customary tea party hosted by the government. |"One needs to look for the opposition in the state. The opposition parties appear to have lost hope...they are confused and bewildered. However, we will not underestimate the opposition irrespective of its strength," he said. The state has received investments worth Rs 2.38 lakh crore in various sectors, the chief minister said, adding that the opposition also needs to apprecia

Fadnavis gave up chance to install BJP mayor in BMC for Shiv Sena: Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said Devendra Fadnavis gave up the opportunity to install a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mayor in Mumbai after the 2017 civic polls for the sake of the Shiv Sena at his request. But Uddhav Thackeray repaid this gesture by severing the alliance with the BJP two years later, the CM said on Saturday at a conclave of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers here. Shinde also sought to assuage concerns of his party colleagues after the Nationalist Congress Party's group led by Ajit Pawar joined his government a fortnight ago. Certain equations have to be formed in politics. Looking at the development (carried out by his government), Ajit Pawar too has backed our government, he said. In June 2022, Shinde and 39 other Shiv Sena MLAs revolted against Uddhav Thackeray, then chief minister and president of the undivided Shiv Sena. One of the main reasons cited by them was that Ajit Pawar, as finance minister, did not allocate funds for their ...

Shinde-led Sena had urged BJP to not give finance dept to Ajit Pawar: Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday claimed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena had urged the BJP leadership in Delhi to not give finance portfolio to NCP leader Ajit Pawar, but it did not relent. He also claimed the Shinde-led Sena was told that if it had issues with the NCP leader getting the finance ministry in the Maharashtra government, then it could swap the chief minister's post with him (Ajit Pawar). Responding to Raut's claim, Pawar said this was an attempt to disturb the atmosphere unnecessarily. They went to Delhi and they were not paid any heed. They were told to stay (in government) if they are willing. Delhi said if you have issues with Ajit Pawar keeping the finance department, then keep the department with you and swap the chief minister's post with him (Pawar). This is my information, Raut claimed while speaking to reporters. Pawar was allocated the key Finance and Planning ministry on Friday when portfolios were allocated to nine NCP MLAs who joi

Mumbai police issues order banning drones, gathering of people till July 29

Mumbai police on Saturday issued a preventive order banning the flying of drones, remote controlled micro light aircraft, paragliders, para motors, hand gliders and hot air balloons over the metropolis for a period of 30 days, an official said. The prohibitory order, which he said was a "regular" one, was in view of the possibility of misuse of such objects to target VVIPS, endanger life of public at large, destroy public property and cause law and order disturbance. The order also bans unlawful assemblies of five or more persons due to information gathered from various sources about likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance to public tranquility from such gatherings, the official added. The prohibitory order covers processions, use of loudspeakers and other sound amplifying systems, musical bands and bursting of firecrackers, he said. However, marriage and funeral functions, statutory meeting of companies, clubs, assemblies in and around cinemas, halls, schools etc are exempt,

Oppn can't decide its leader, Modi's victory in 2024 is certain: CM Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would certainly win the 2024 general election as the opposition has failed to decide on a leader. Speaking at 'Shasan Aplya Dari' (government at your doorstep) program, he also said that NCP leader Ajit Pawar joining the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state will make it "faster". We have 200 MLAs and MPs with us (in Maharashtra). There will be no discrimination. Injustice will not be done to anyone," Shinde said. Even though opposition leaders are trying to come together to defeat Modi in the next Lok Sabha elections, they could not decide on a leader, he said, adding, "This has made PM Modi's victory certain." Ajit Pawar too has reposed faith in Modi's leadership now, Shinde said, adding that the prime minister is receiving praise wherever he goes. Modi got the chance to address the US Congress twice and recently France's highest honour was conferred on him, the Shiv Sena leader said. "With .

Dharavi residents fear uncertainty about houses after nod to Adani project

Even as the Maharashtra government has formally awarded the 259-hectare Dharavi Redevelopment project to an Adani Group firm, residents fear that poor people who depend on local businesses will suffer due to the project. Among Asia's largest slums, Dharavi is dotted with huts, shanties and is home to several small businesses. We were shocked to know that the state government has given green signal to an Adani Group firm for the project. There are hundreds of ground-plus two storey structures in the locality, in which one room is occupied by the house owner and the other by the tenant, and the former depends on the rent money to run his household," Paul Raphel, president of Dharavi Nagrik Seva Sangh, said. Now, if these structures are demolished as part of the project and the owners are later given just one room, what will they do, he asked. Reacting to the state government's decision, Dharavi resident advocate Sandip Katake alleged the project would be the world's biggest land ...