National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel rescuing residents in Chiplun area in the western Indian state of Maharashtra 24th of July (AFP/AP)
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily | JULY 24th 2021
The worst floods in decades are being experienced in the resort state of Goa, in India, after days of heavy torrential rainfall that led to the evacuation of over 90,000 people. The search for survivors is still underway as the death toll climbs.
On Saturday, rescuers had combed through the piles of debris and mud in search of any survivors. Thus far, the death toll has over to 130 people, though it’s expected to rise. The western state of Maharashtra saw particularly high damages from the floods and landslides, with dozens of people still reported missing.
“People have lost virtually everything,” said Goa’s health minister, Vishwajit Rane. He added that it’s been at least half a century since the state of Goa such this level of rainfall.
According to Goa’s chief minister, Pramod Sawant, they were lucky to have had no reported casualties despite “widespread damage,” unlike in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra, where 76 deaths were reported on Thursday. A number that has since risen to 136, on Saturday.
“Torrential rainfall in various parts of the state often coinciding with high tides and also discharge from dams led to various regions … getting inundated thereby resulting in floods across multiple districts,” said a government statement released on Saturday, adding that relief efforts were underway.
The Indian town of Mahad had been flooded when the banks of the Savitri river burst, leaving the town entirely inaccessible by road. In order to escape the flood waters, residents of the town were forced to hold out on upper floors and rooftops, awaiting rescue.
Rescue operations are well under way, though their efforts are being set back somewhat by inundated roads and landslide blockages. The efforts are being led by the army, navy and air force, though with the main highway between Mumbai and Goa being blocked off, the efforts have been greatly hampered.
“We will do whatever it takes to save lives and property,” said Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to reporters. “This disaster has hit the entire state from Nagpur in the east to Mahabaleshwar in the west. The rains have been unprecedented and we’re facing an unexpected emergency.”
