Massive rainfall has wreaked havoc in Ratnagiri district, with Chiplun city being the worst affected. Hundreds of Chiplun residents were stranded in their homes after Vashisti river, the lifeline of the city, overflowed.National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Coast Guard teams reached Chiplun on Thursday afternoon and rescue operations have begun. In the past 24 hours, Chiplun registered 200 mm rain, the highest in Ratnagiri district. Many market places, residential and commercial complexes are under water. Electricity and communication lines have been snapped, bridges in and around. The State Transport bus stand has been completely submerged, with all parked buses under water. “An electricity sub-station in Chiplun has also been submerged, which has hit the power supply in the city.
Cellphones of residents are not working and hence it is difficult to know who is stuck where,” said officials. The incessant rain has ravaged the Konkan region for several days have caused major rivers in the state’s Ratnagiri and Raigad districts to overflow above the danger mark. Several long-distance trains have been stopped, cancelled or rescheduled on the Konkan Railway route. According to rail officials, around 6,000 passengers were stranded in trains which were regulated at various stations on the Konkan Railway route. NDRF officials, meanwhile, said they have rushed four teams to Chiplun. “It is difficult to reach Chiplun because of flooded roads. We will send two more teams by helicopter. Each team has five boats. Residents should contact the helpline number of the collectorate, which will help us understand in which area and buildings the citizens have been stuck,” said NDRF officials. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took a review of the situation in Ratnagiri and Raigad - the worst affected coastal districts - the chief minister's office (CMO) said.