6 killed after dam breach causes flood in India

At least six people were killed and 19 others went missing after a dam in India's Maharashtra's coastal Konkan region breached following incessant rain leading to flood-like situation in downstream villages, officials said today.

A district official said that the Tiware dam in Ratnagiri district developed a breach early today following heavy rain, our New Delhi correspondent reports.

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A local police officer said six bodies have been recovered so far while 19 people are still missing.

The dam breach caused a flood-like situation in seven downstream villages and a of dozen houses have been swept away by gushing waters.

Vishal Gaikwad, additional superintendent of police of Ratnagiri, said, a search operation has been launched by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state police personnel.

"Police have moved the villagers to safety. The situation is under control now," he added.

Another police officer said rescue operations were hampered initially due to darkness and sudden gush of water.

Local public representatives alleged that the government neglected their pleas for maintenance of the dam. They claimed to have written to the administration about the cracks in the walls of the dam, but no action was taken.

Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said that the villagers in the vicinity of the Tiware dam earlier complained of cracks in the dam.