Rescue operations continue for the third consecutive day at Irshalwadi hamlet in Maharashtra's Raigad district, where a devastating landslide claimed the lives of at least 22 people. As of Saturday, as many as 86 villagers remain unaccounted for, according to officials. The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday night at the tribal village, situated on a hill slope under Khalapur tehsil, approximately 80 km from Mumbai.

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The death toll, which stood at 16 on Thursday evening, tragically rose to 22 on Friday following the recovery of six more bodies. Among the deceased were nine men, nine women, and four children. The disaster resulted in the loss of an entire family, as nine of its members perished, as confirmed by officials.

Khalapur landslide: 16 dead so far, around 100 injured; rescue operation continues

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Speaking to a news agency, the police said, "The search and rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other government agencies resumed for the third day on Saturday morning."

The search operation was suspended around 6 pm on Friday due to heavy rains, an NDRF official said. "Four NDRF teams and other agencies resumed the operation this morning," he said.

A significant portion of the village, consisting of 17 out of 48 houses, was either entirely or partially buried under the debris from the massive landslide on the hill slope.

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According to the Raigad district disaster management office, out of the total 229 village residents, 22 individuals lost their lives, 10 sustained injuries, 111 were reported safe, while the whereabouts of 86 people remained unknown and were yet to be traced.

During the tragic incident, some villagers had left the area to attend a wedding, while others were away for rice plantation work, which kept them safe from the landslide.

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Out of the six victims whose bodies were recovered on Friday, three were men and three were women. Heartbreakingly, four young children, ranging from six months to four years old, were among the deceased. One family suffered the loss of nine members, including a three-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister.

In addition to the human casualties, three livestock animals also perished, but thankfully, 21 animals were rescued.

Reaching Irshalwadi from the hill base takes around one-and-a-half hours due to the absence of a proper road. As a result, earth movers and excavators couldn't be easily utilized, making the rescue operation a manual effort, carried out by dedicated officials.

To accommodate the survivors, around 60 containers have been requisitioned as transit camps, with 40 of them already in place at the location. Furthermore, 20 temporary toilets and an equal number of bathrooms have been set up to support those affected by the tragedy.

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