Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray cancels his birthday celebrations in view of Raigad landslide

Uddhav Thackeray. File Photo/PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has decided to cancel his birthday celebrations on July 27, in light of the tragic landslide incident in Maharashtra's Raigad district that resulted in the loss of at least 27 lives. Typically, Thackeray meets his party leaders and cadre outside his residence on his birthday, but this tradition has been disrupted for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shiv Sena (UBT) media adviser Harshal Pradhan confirmed to mid-day.com that Uddhav Thackeray has asked his party leaders and cadre not to gather outside his residence on his birthday.

"In view of Raigad landslide, Uddhav Thackeray has called off his birthday celebrations. He has asked party leaders and cadre not to gather outside Matoshree. The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief has asked Shiv Sainiks to carry out social activities on his birthday," Pradhan said.

Earlier, both the deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra, BJP's Devendra Fadnavis and NCP's Ajit Pawar, had called off birthday celebrations in view of Raigad celebrations.

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On July 22, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray visited Irshalwadi in Raigad district, where the landslide took place. Later, Thackeray said that people living in landslide-prone areas in Maharashtra should be moved to safer locations.

Talking to reporters after meeting the residents of Irsahlwadi, where at least 27 people have died in a landslide, the former Maharashtra chief minister said he had planned a scheme to rehabilitate villages residing in landslide-prone areas to safer places.

"Not just Irsahlwadi. All such localities should be rehabilitated in nearby villages or areas," he said.

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The National Disaster Response Force on July 23 called off its search and rescue operation in Irshalwadi in Maharashtra's Raigad district.

A massive landslide hit Irshalwadi, a tribal village located on a hill slope in the coastal district, around 80 km from Mumbai, on July 19 night. At least 17 of 48 houses in the village were fully or partially buried under the landslide debris.