Raigad landslide: Rescuers had a tough task getting to site

Rescuers climb the hillock to search for the victims, at Irsalwadi, on Thursday. Pics/Satej Shinde

The landslide at Irsalwadi buried most of the 45 houses on the hillock and villagers are feared trapped 15 feet to 20 feet deep in the debris, officials said
on Thursday.

According to officials, before the landslide wreaked havoc, 45 families of about 234 people lived in the hamlet settled around the Irsal Gadh (fort). Of the 45 houses, only five or six have remained intact, they added. The rescue personnel, including the NDRF, police and Thane Disaster Response Force, have to trek for a couple of hours to carry out the rescue operations.

Over 2-hour trek

"It's a 5-km trek with a lot of difficulties, as we also have to carry rescue equipment. The trekking route is zigzag and has slippery rocks. It's especially difficult to climb while it's raining. We can't use heavy machinery, as vehicles cannot go up. We have sought the help of the five neighbouring villages," an NDRF officer told mid-say.

Rescue personnel at the site of the landslide

Minister Aditi Tatkare, who visited the site, also emphasised on the challenging geography of the village. "The rescue operation has become incredibly difficult, especially with the current heavy rains. The rescue teams faced considerable obstacles in reaching the affected area. It becomes even more arduous to transport the injured individuals while navigating the mountains for two-three hours," she told media persons.

A police officer told mid-day that the authorities decided to bury the bodies here, as it was difficult to carry them down.

School survives

The villagers are rice farmers who also cut and transport wood. As the fort is a famous trekking destination during the monsoon, they also set up food stalls for the hikers.

A villager told mid-day, "These villagers have been living at this place since the time of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj decades. During Shivaji Maharaj's time, villagers here used to provide security to Irshal gadh (fort) and built a village around the boundary of the fort."

A primary school built here was not affected by the landslide.

Another villager pointed out that for those living on the hillock, the trek is not that difficult and it takes them only 20-30 minutes. However, for others, it is a difficult hike and takes around three-four hours, he added. The rescuers also found bullocks, goats and hens in the debris, and rescued a dog.

45
No. of houses in the village

Activists ask CM for immediate ban on quarrying

Stating that the Irsalwadi landslide tragedy is a wake-up call, environmentalists have called for an immediate ban on all quarries across hills and a thorough study of eco-sensitive areas such as the Raigad and Thane districts.

The continuous and high-intensity blasts have far-reaching impact in terms of loosening of the soil on the hillslopes, which could cause landslides, NatConnect Foundation and Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan (SEAP) said in their email to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

A number of quarries are functional at various places in Raigad district and it is high time that a dedicated hill development regulatory authority is formed to check indiscriminate mining, NatConnect Director, B N Kumar said.