400 stranded people rescued from salt pans

The Palghar district administration rescued 250 villagers living around the salt pans near Vasai Road station on Monday, close on the heels of the rescue operations on Saturday to bring back 107 tourists from Chinchoti waterfall in Vasai on Saturday.

Some estimates said there were 400 people stranded in small houses around the salt pans, however, police pegged the number at 275. The salt pans are located nearly 52 km within Vasai tehsil. "There are 100-odd houses, in which 250 to 275 people live. It is low-lying and it flooded during overnight rains," Palghar police officials said.

Rescue teams were rushed under the guidance of District Disaster Management Officer Vivekananda Kadam and Vasai Tehsildar Kiran Survase. Teams from the district unit and the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation in small motorised inflatable boats reached the scattered hamlets of Mithagar and extended help. Food packets and water bottles were dispatched. Then the stranded people, particularly young children and senior citizens were taken to a safe location.

"It was very difficult for us," said a stranded resident, who refused to move out. "We have several teams here, doctors who are going doorto-door. There are old people, kids who may need help," a fire official said. These are people who work in the salt pans. "We don't want to move out, we stay here, there is no question," said a local, not wishing to be identified. Palghar district and police officials said these are low-lying areas and before monsoon people are advised to shift to safer locations. "Since people are not moving out, we too are staying put here," a fireman said.