1 village still in the dark

NAVI MUMBAI: Five days after Cyclone Tauktae hit several districts in Maharashtra, one village in Raigad district is still waiting for restoration of power supply. Around 5,138 villagers are still in dark. Of the 1,960 villages in the district, 1,820 were affected due to the cyclone after around a total of 168 high-tension poles and 426 low-tension poles along with 12 transformers were damaged.

MSEDCL and MSETCL officials had been working on war footing to restore power.

total losses are expected to be around ₹60 crore,” said an official from Mantralaya.

Coastal districts do not grow any seasonal crops, so there was not much damage to the crops. However, plantations of Alphonso mango and chickoo were damaged largely.

Thackeray said the state will press for long-term measures that will help the coastal districts that face such cyclones. He said the state government has requested the Centre for assistance for cyclone-risk mitigation measures, including underground power supply infrastructure and anti-erosion measures. “I am sure Prime Minister Narendra Modi will help Maharashtra, similar to how he announced a package for Gujarat,” he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders slammed the CM for his short tour of the cyclone-affected districts. “I do not want to politicise the issue, but one should answer why the CM visited only two districts? His tour lasted for just three hours and travelled just a few kilometers. The ruling parties have questions about Modi’s Gujarat tour. They should first look at Thackeray’s tour,” said leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis.

Thackeray took a dig at Fadnavis, saying that he was not frustrated like the opposition leader. “I have not come here for a photo session. I want to give true relief to the affected people from coastal areas. I did not restrict myself to the aerial tour,” he said.