PUNE: The Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are assisting the Maharashtra and Karnataka state authorities in carrying out relief and rescue operations in flood hit areas. 

As on Wednesday, 16 Columns have been deployed in Belgaum, Bagalkot and Raichur districts of Karnataka and Raigad, Kolhapur and Sangli districts of Maharashtra for flood relief operations. 500 persons have been rescued, provided medical aid and food.

The rescue operations are underway in villages of Birwadi and Asankoli in Raigad district, Mouje Digraj, Haripur and Nandre Village of Sangli and Kolhapur districts. More than 1,300 people are stranded in these Villages. All efforts are underway to rescue them. 

An AVRO aircraft of South Western Air Command swiftly positioned the NDRF team of 16 personnel and 3,000 kg of life saving equipment including two lifeboats and communication equipment at noon at Kolhapur airport amidst heavy rain. At 7.40 am on Wednesday one Medium Lift Helicopter with NDRF personnel and from Pune tried to reach Kolhapur but had to abort due to bad weather. 

Five rescue teams of the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command were mobilised on Tuesday for Kolhapur and Sangli districts in response to a State request for assistance. The teams were to be airlifted but adverse weather did not permit it. 

The teams proceeded to Pune by road overnight, equipped with rescue gear and rubber inflatable boats and will be airlifted to affected areas. Five additional Indian Navy flood relief teams were prepared to be airlifted to the affected areas from Mumbai on Wednesday morning. 

Goa Naval Area has deployed four teams of divers for rescue operations at Kolhapur. The rescue teams, along with diving equipment were flown from INAS Hansa at Goa early Wednesday morning for Kolhapur airfield, where they will join teams from Western Naval Command, Mumbai, NDRF teams and the District Collector.