Maha rains: From hospital bed, Eknath Shinde conducts meeting; issues orders to 3 party ministers

Mumbai, July 6 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday reviewed the state’s severe flood situation directly from his hospital bed. Despite being on intravenous (IV) saline support, he conducted a high-level meeting via video conferencing to assess the extensive damage caused by continuous heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Konkan, and Raigad.

He strictly directed ministers and administrative officials to expedite rescue operations and ensure immediate relief reaches the affected citizens.

For the past four days, relentless torrential rains have caused widespread devastation across the state. Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and the Konkan region have borne the brunt of the downpour, severely disrupting daily life. In Konkan, rivers have begun breaching their danger marks, while Raigad faces a similarly critical situation. Monitoring the crisis closely, Dy CM Shinde continued to oversee management operations despite being hospitalised. He has mobilised Shiv Sena party workers, ministers, MLAs, and MPs to assist citizens on the ground.

Earlier this morning, he initiated another video conference to issue fresh directives. He evaluated the district-wise flood status, checking the availability of relief materials and tracking which political leaders were active on the ground. He instructed leaders to visit the affected spots immediately, meet with residents to understand their grievances, and coordinate closely with local administrations to provide urgent aid.

Dy CM Shinde issued specific directives to Raigad and Ratnagiri-based Ministers Bharat Gogawale, Yogesh Kadam, and Uday Samant, ordering them to strictly monitor waterlogged areas in Mahad and across the Raigad district. The ministers have been ordered to personally visit disaster-hit zones and safely relocate stranded citizens to secure shelters.

In his capacity as the Guardian Minister of Mumbai, Dy CM Shinde held a virtual meeting with Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide from the hospital. Reviewing Mumbai’s monsoon response, he commanded all civic officials to hit the field and address complaints raised by local ward corporators with utmost seriousness.

Highlighting the recent rise in tree-falling incidents across Mumbai, Dy CM Shinde ordered the immediate removal of hazardous, precariously leaning trees to avert future mishaps. He further directed the civic body to secure open manholes and thoroughly audit landslide-prone areas across the city.

Dy CM Shinde has been hospitalised for the last three days due to exhaustion and a throat infection. Officials have confirmed that his condition is now stable and improving. A photograph from his virtual meeting recently surfaced on TV channels, showing the Deputy Chief Minister conducting state business with saline IV lines attached to both his hands.

Following reports of a landslide in the Nagothane area, Minister Bharat Gogawale, after Dy CM Shinde’s directive, immediately left for Raigad. He will personally supervise the ongoing rescue and relief operations and assess the surrounding flood conditions. After inspecting the site, Gogawale is expected to submit a comprehensive situational report to Dy CM Shinde.

–IANS

sj/dpb