10 dead, several trapped in landslide in western India

ANKARA

At least 10 people have died and several others were trapped after a landslide caused by monsoon rains hit a remote village in India’s western Maharashtra state, officials said on Thursday.

The landslide occurred in Irshalwadi, a mountain village in the Raigad district, late Wednesday night and buried a large number of houses, prompting authorities to launch a massive rescue operation in the area, according to Devendra Fadnavis, the state’s deputy chief minister.

According to preliminary information, Fadnavis said, a total of 48 families live in the village and after the incident around 75 people have been evacuated.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the incident happened in a "geographically remote place" and that instructions were given to carry out a rescue operation by helicopter.

The India Meteorological Department said on Thursday that “exceptionally heavy rainfall” was observed over Raigad.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said that teams of the National Disaster Response Force have reached the spot and a rescue operation is underway along with local administration.

Dozens of people have died in various Indian states in the past few weeks as heavy monsoons lash several parts of the country.

In its weather bulletin, the weather department has warned of more rains at isolated places in several parts of the country on Thursday.

In the western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, the heavy rainfall has thrown normal life out of gear, with authorities even closing the schools at some places.