15 dead, many injured in 2 incidents of rain-triggered landslides in Mumbai

15 people died and at least two were injured following heavy rains in two separate incidents of landslides in Mahul and Vikhroli area of Mumbai’s eastern suburbs overnight, municipal authorities confirmed. Prime Minister’s office announced ₹2 lakh in relief from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s disaster management cell, at around 1 am on Sunday, a retaining wall collapsed in Vashi Naka area of Mahul due to a landslide, killing 12 people and injuring at least two. According to BMC, all 12 people were brought dead to Rajawadi Hospital and the two injured were treated and discharged.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was also called in for search and rescue operations at the Mahul landslide site. The NDRF in a statement earlier this morning, said, “Incessant rainfall has caused landslides in Vashi-naka, Chembur. About 4-5 houses were affected. 10 dead bodies have been retrieved by local BMC/ fire brigade personnel before NDRF reached and 1 dead body of a female has been retrieved by NDRF team. Further, 6 to 8 persons are feared to be trapped. The NDRF team under command is at the incident site and search and rescue operation is going on.”

In another similar incident, five to six houses collapsed in Panchsheel Chawl in Surya Nagar area of Vikhroli, killing three and injuring two, according to BMC’s disaster management cell.

The city reported heavy rainfall overnight with most intensity seen between 12 am and 3 am. Water logging was reported at several places in the city including in Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Andheri, Chembur, Kurla, Gandhi Market, Hindmata etc. According to BMC, between 8 pm on Saturday and 2 am on Sunday, the island city recorded a rainfall of 156 mm followed by eastern suburbs reporting 143 mm of heavy rainfall and western suburbs reporting 125 mm of rainfall.

Sunday morning a tweet from PMO announced that ₹2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the wall collapses in Mumbai and ₹50,000 will be given to those injured.PM Narendra Modi also expressed his regret at the loss of lives.

“Saddened by the loss of lives due to wall collapses in Chembur and Vikhroli in Mumbai. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. Praying that those who are injured have a speedy recovery,” PM said in a tweet on Sunday morning.