Six people were killed and 18 are still missing after heavy rainfall led to a breach in the Tiware Dam in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district at around 9.30 pm last night. Seven down-stream villages, which include Akle, Riktoli, Ovali, Kalkavne and Nandivase, have been flooded and at least 12 houses and 20 vehicles near the dam have been washed away.
According to a report the 19-year-old dam had shown signs of leakage. District authorities were informed, locals said, but no repairs were carried out.
A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team is at the spot, which is approximately 275 kilometres from Mumbai, to carry out search and rescue operations. Additional rescue teams consisting of government officials, police and volunteers are also working at the site.