Tiware dam breach: Death count rises to 18, search operation still on

The death count in the Tiware dam breach incident has gone up to 18 with the recovery of seven more bodies on Thursday. As several more people are feared dead in the incident, the search operation launched by a joint of police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is still on in and around the dam. The Tiware dam in Chiplun taluka of Mumbai's Ratnagiri district breached late on Tuesday night. Total 23 persons are feared dead in the incident and bodies of 11 persons were recovered till Wednesday.

"Total 18 bodies have been recovered so far, in #TiwareDam breach incident. Search operation continues," the news agency ANI reported.

#UPDATE: Total 18 bodies have been recovered so far, in #TiwareDam breach incident. Search operation continues. #Ratnagiri https://t.co/DvGN0sKSZ2

— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2019

Some of the deceased were identified as Chandrabhaga Chavan (75), Atmaram Chavan (75) and their kin Pandurang (55), Sharda (44), Dashrath (20), Sandesh Dhadve (18), Nandaram (55), Vaishnavi (20), Anusaya (70), Ravindra (45), Rakesh Ghanekar (30), Sunil Pawar (33) and Rutuja Chavan (26).

According to the official, Rutuja’s body was found around 30 kms away from Tiware village under a bridge on Vashishthi river and she was identified on the basis of her ear-rings. "Post-mortem was performed at Kamthe Hospital in Chiplun and the bodies were handed over to their relatives," Vishal Gaikwad, Additional Superintendent of Police, Ratnagiri, said, adding that the search operation is underway to rescue the remaining bodies.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government late Wednesday evening announced a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the breach. The SIT team will probe the allegation that officials neglected repeated complaints about leaks from the dam. Water Resources minister Girish Mahajan also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased.

At least 18 people were killed and six others went missing after the dam breached following incessant rains leading to flood-like situation in downstream villages. The dam had developed a breach late Tuesday night  due to heavy rains in adjoining Satara district.