2023 Raigad landslide
{{Short description|2023 landslide in India}}
{{Infobox event
| date = {{start date and age|2023|07|19|df=y}}
| Location = Raigad district, Maharashtra, India
| reported deaths = 26 (reported as of 22 July 2023, 16:00 IST)
| missing = 109
}}
On 19 July 2023 at approximately 22:30 local time,{{Cite news |date=2023-07-21 |title=Maharashtra: Sixteen dead, dozens trapped in deadly India landslide |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66264958 |access-date=2023-07-21 |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721081703/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66264958 |url-status=live }} a landslide occurred in Raigad, Maharashtra, India. The landslide was caused by torrential rains, and resulted in at least 26 deaths,{{cite web|title=Raigad landslide July 20 updates : Rescue operations called off for the day; NDRF confirms 16 deaths|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/raigad-maharashtra-landslide-live-updates/article67100496.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=20 July 2023|access-date=20 July 2023|archive-date=21 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721040658/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/raigad-maharashtra-landslide-live-updates/article67100496.ece|url-status=live}} with more than 100 estimated trapped under debris.{{Cite news |last1=Mascarenhas |first1=Francis |last2=Jamkhandikar |first2=Shilpa |date=2023-07-20 |title=Ten dead, more than a 100 feared trapped in landslide in India after heavy rain |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/four-dead-more-than-100-feared-trapped-landslide-india-2023-07-20/ |access-date=2023-07-20 |archive-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720085739/https://www.reuters.com/world/india/four-dead-more-than-100-feared-trapped-landslide-india-2023-07-20/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=India: Deadly landslide traps several under debris – DW – 07/20/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/india-deadly-landslide-traps-several-under-debris/a-66291661 |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=dw.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721040625/https://www.dw.com/en/india-deadly-landslide-traps-several-under-debris/a-66291661 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2023-07-20 |title=Landslide in Maharashtra's Raigad, 22 people rescued, many feared trapped |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/landslide-in-maharashtras-raigad-22-people-rescued-many-feared-trapped/articleshow/101970676.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-07-20 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721040641/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/landslide-in-maharashtras-raigad-22-people-rescued-many-feared-trapped/articleshow/101970676.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=India: Five dead, some trapped, in landslide in Maharashtra after heavy rain |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-five-dead-some-trapped-in-landslide-in-maharashtra-after-heavy-rain-617689 |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=WION |language=en-us |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721040653/https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-five-dead-some-trapped-in-landslide-in-maharashtra-after-heavy-rain-617689 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=2023-07-20 |title=At least 10 people killed, some 100 feared trapped after landslide in India |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20230720-at-least-four-killed-a-hundred-feared-buried-in-landslide-in-india |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721040625/https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20230720-at-least-four-killed-a-hundred-feared-buried-in-landslide-in-india |url-status=live}}
Preceding days
In the days leading up to the landslide, India experienced significant rains, with the Yamuna river at its highest level in 45 years.{{cite web |title=Delhi races to drain floodwaters with more rain expected – DW – 07/14/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/delhi-races-to-drain-floodwaters-with-more-rain-expected/a-66240177 |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=dw.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721040654/https://www.dw.com/en/delhi-races-to-drain-floodwaters-with-more-rain-expected/a-66240177 |url-status=live }} The region where the landslide occurred had been under an "orange" alert over the two days before the event.
Landslide
The landslide occurred 9:30 on 19 July 2023, in the remote mountain hamlet of Irshalwadi, approximately {{Convert|60|km|mi}} from Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra. The village resides close to Irshalgad fort, which is a popular weekend trekking spot. The majority of the villagers are from the Thakur Adivasi community and have been residing in this region for many generations.{{cite web |last1=Express News Service |title=At least 16 dead, over 100 feared trapped as landslide buries Maharashtra village |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-raigad-landslide-rains-ndrf-rescue-8849437/ |website=Indian Express |date=20 July 2023 |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-date=21 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721222122/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-raigad-landslide-rains-ndrf-rescue-8849437/ |url-status=live }} Over 98 people were rescued, and 26 bodies had been recovered. Nine members of a family died.[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/raigad-landslide-search-operation-resumes-on-third-day/article67108716.ece/ Raigad landslide | Death toll rises to 25; 83 persons yet to be traced] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722195714/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/raigad-landslide-search-operation-resumes-on-third-day/article67108716.ece |date=2023-07-22 }}, The Hindu Maharashtra's deputy chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, told the state assembly that an estimated 225 people lived in the hamlet.{{Cite news |last1=Mascarenhas |first1=Francis |last2=Jamkhandikar |first2=Shilpa |date=2023-07-20 |title=Indian landslide kills 16, rescue operations paused |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/four-dead-more-than-100-feared-trapped-landslide-india-2023-07-20/ |access-date=2023-07-21 |archive-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720085739/https://www.reuters.com/world/india/four-dead-more-than-100-feared-trapped-landslide-india-2023-07-20/ |url-status=live }}
Debris was, in some places, {{Convert|10–29|ft|m}} deep. At least 109 people were left missing under the debris.{{cite web |date=2023-07-20 |title=More than a 100 feared trapped in landslide in India |url=https://news.yahoo.com/more-100-feared-trapped-landslide-075406711.html |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721041126/https://news.yahoo.com/more-100-feared-trapped-landslide-075406711.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=5 killed, 100 feared trapped in landslide in India {{!}} Sada Elbalad |url=https://see.news/5-killed-100-feared-trapped-in-landslide-in-india |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=see.news |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721051129/https://see.news/5-killed-100-feared-trapped-in-landslide-in-india |url-status=live }} Seventeen out of 50 houses in the hamlet were damaged.
Response
The National Disaster Response Force, police and medical teams were involved in relief efforts, which resumed on the morning of 21 July 2023 after being halted on late 20 July 2023 due to heavy rainfall. Excavators were airlifted to the site, and rescuers had to travel {{Convert|1.5|mi|km}} from the nearest highway to reach the site.{{Cite news |last1=Yasir |first1=Sameer |last2=Kumar |first2=Hari |date=2023-07-20 |title=Landslide Kills at Least 10 in Western India |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/20/world/asia/india-flood-maharashtra-monsoon.html |access-date=2023-07-21 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721011713/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/20/world/asia/india-flood-maharashtra-monsoon.html |url-status=live }}
Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra, announced 500,000 Indian rupees in compensation for the families of the deceased.