Two die in Malegaon in slab collapse after heavy rain; landslides affect traffic movement in ghats

Nashik/Kolhapur: A 65-year-old woman and her grandson were killed after a slab of their house collapsed in Malegaon during the first heavy spell of rain in the textile city, while incessant rainfall in Kolhapur and Satara districts led to multiple landslides and traffic disruptions on Friday.The deceased, Vimalbai Yewale (65) and Chetan Yewale (21), and another family member, Pranita Yewale, were inside the house in the city’s Collector Patta on Friday afternoon, when it started raining heavily.All three sustained severe injuries when the slab crashed. Local residents rescued them and took them to a private hospital, where Vimalbai and Chetan succumbed to their injuries during treatment. Pranita’s condition is critical.

Inspector Subhash Sanap of the Chhavani police station said they have registered a case of accidental death.After landslides in Amba and Karul ghats, which connect Kolhapur and Ratnagiri districts, traffic was diverted via Anuskura ghat while the public works department removed debris. Minor landslides also occurred at Pasarni ghat, connecting Panchgani with Wai town, and in Ambenali ghat, connecting Mahabaleshwar in Satara district with Poladpur in Raigad district.

A huge tree fell over the road at Amboli ghat, which connects Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts, leading to a traffic blockade for nearly two hours on Friday afternoon.In Amba ghat, between Dakkhan and Kalakdara in Sangameshwar taluka of Ratnagiri district, a large landslide occurred on Friday morning around 9am. The iron crash barrier erected in the middle of the four-lane highway stopped a large boulder, preventing it from falling directly on moving vehicles or the road, and a major accident was averted.Passengers travelling through the ghat were asked to keep full control over vehicle speed, exercise special caution during the journey, and strictly follow instructions from the administration.Traffic movement between Gadhinglaj and Chandgad tehsils in Kolhapur district was disrupted after a service road bridge collapsed due to increased flow in the Hiranyakeshi river. Seven barrages in the district were submerged under waters of the Panchaganga, Bhogawati and Kasari rivers, affecting local traffic movement between villages.

The Rajaram barrage over the Panchaganga river, adjacent to Kolhapur city, was also submerged on Friday at 7pm.Kolhapur district disaster management head, Prasad Sankpal, said, “Incessant rains have been received in the last two to three days. As per the India Meteorological Department, heavy rains are expected in the next three days in ghat areas and in plains from Kolhapur district.”While noting that the administration, farmers as well as citizens were delighted with the arrival of rains after a delay, he issued a word of caution.

“The river waters from the district are rising. Five barrages from the district have been submerged, and orders have been given to authorities concerned to stop the traffic movement through these barrages. Even six inches of water has enough current to sweep a bigger vehicle like a truck.

No one should take an extra risk and enter swollen waters. If any calamity takes place, then one can immediately contact the Disaster Management team by dialling the toll-free number ‘1077’,” Sankpal said.Heavy rains continued in the region, especially in Kolhapur and Satara districts. In Satara district, Mahabaleshwar received 158mm of rainfall, while Navaja received 105mm and Koyna 53mm in the 24 hours till 8.30am on Friday. Five dam catchments in Kolhapur district received above 95mm rainfall in those 24 hours.An ox belonging to farmer Amol Baburao Kognole was swept away into the flowing Panchaganga river water on Thursday evening in Waliwade village. Despite rescue efforts, the ox was not traced till Friday evening.