Flood death toll reaches 18 in Kolhapur Dist

Kolhapur, Aug 10 (UNI) The death toll in the rain-related incidents in the district rose to 18, when one person was swept away in the worst affected Shirol tehsil today.

Flood situation in the district remained unchanged, even though the intensity of rains reduced to some extent since yesterday. In some parts of the district, however, rains continued to lash the catchment areas of the irrigation dams, forcing the government machinary to release water in the river beds.

Vehicular traffic on the Kolhapur-Ratnagiri national highway, two state highways Kolhapur-Radhanagari and Kolhapur-Gaganbavada, all located on the Kolhapur-Konkan route, was suspended for the third day today as they remained submerged under flood water, District Collector Pravin Darade said.

A total of 16 villages, majority of them in the worst flood affected Shirol tehsil, have been marooned, while the road conectivity to 98 villages was disrupted, he said and added that 19,686 people have been shifted to safer places including 4,170 in 42 relief camps opened by the district administration, while the rest to their relatives' houses.

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