The Indian Navy, Army and Air Force on Sunday participated in rescue operations to assist Thane, Palghar and Kalyan district administration as Bhatsa and Barvi dams overflowed leading to Bhatsa and Ulhas rivers breaching their banks and stranding people in their homes. Waters rose up to a height of 8 to 10 feet requiring specialist assistance in evacuation.
Within 40 minutes of receiving a request from the Disaster Management Unit of the State government, the Indian Navy deployed three fully equipped flood rescue teams to assist the district administration. The Indian Air Force too deployed its Mi17 helicopter to airlift stranded villagers.
“Two teams operated in the vicinity of Khadawali village and have successfully evacuated 27 people to safety. One flood rescue team was active in Shahad region under Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) till late on Sunday evening. All three teams are being positioned with district authorities overnight to be able to respond quickly to any new emergencies that might arise overnight,” Commander Mehul Karnik, chief public relations officer (CPRO), Indian Navy said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Naval teams from INS Tanaji, Mankhurd, INS Vajrabahu, Colaba and Material Organisation assisted 27 to safety in Kadawali and Shahad in KDMC limits as Ulhas and Bhatsa rivers overflowed. Officials said the Indian Air Force team made two sorties between 12.40 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. and air-lifted a total of 58 people. In the first sortie, 34 including 20 adults (mostly women) and 14 children were rescued. In the second sortie, 24 persons, including 22 adults and 2 children weer rescused. All those rescused due to floods in the Bhatsa river were brought to the Air Force Station at Thane.
The village near Titwala had turned in to an island, after river water surrounded it, cutting off all access roads. Thane district Guardian Minister, Eknath Shinde communicated with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, following which a request to air-lift the trapped villagers was made to the air force. “The chopper initially faced difficulty locating the exact location due to bad weather and incessant rains. All villagers were rescued by around 3 p.m,” an official from the Chief Minister’s office said.
The air force received another request from the state administration for helicopter assistance to rescue 15 people stranded at Burunda village in Palghar district. The IAF’s Mi17 helicopter launched however returned as no one was found at the co-ordinates given and the weather was not condusive.
ADVERTISEMENT