Lack of aviation fuel has affected relief operations in the flood-affected district of Kolhapur as helicopters could not be pressed into service for dropping food packets, official sources said.
"We have been frantically trying to get aviation fuel for the helicopters from Pune and Belgaum but so far nothing postive has emerged. Therefore, no food packet was dropped from the helicopters on Sunday. However, we managed to reach the flood victims and distribute food packets, water and biscuits to them", resident deputy collector D K Shinde told PTI.
Terrible Tuesday: Mumbai copes with a calamity
He said there was no change in the flood situation in Shirul taluka. "However, things have shown some improvement in the city as well as the western part of the district," he added.
At least 70,000 people of 35 villages were affected in the district due to the floods, of which 40,000 were shifted to 53 relief camps set up by the district administration in various
parts of Kolhapur, they added.
The number of rain-related deaths in Kolhapur has been put at 21. While 11 people were reported missing, two had been injured.
Terrible Tuesday: Mumbai copes with a calamity
Mumbai Help