At least 76 people have died in the landslides, research continues

In the west of the country, Indian rescue workers searched in mud and debris on Saturday, July 24 to find survivors after a landslide that killed at least 76 people in the west of the country.

At least 59 are missing, Heavy rains lashed the west coast of India on Thursday, causing landslides that buried dozens of homes in the Raigad district south of Mumbai. Maharashtra state government spokesperson Anirudh Ashtaputra told AFP that two more people were killed in the landslide in Satara district and another 15 were missing.

The Navy and Air Force intervened and helped thousands of people affected by the floods. But relief efforts have been hampered by landslides that have cut off several roads, especially the highway between Bombay and Goa.

The continuous rains for more than 24 hours brought the Vashishti River out of its bed. The area around Siploon, 250 km from Bombay, was submerged by 3.5 meters of water.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uttam Thackeray said emergency services were finding it difficult to reach isolated areas of Siploon due to flood-damaged roads and bridges.