Maharashtra Floods: It’s time to help affected people instead of playing politics, says Aditya Thackeray

As several parts of Maharashtra have been crippled by severe floods, Aditya Thackeray said people should try to help rather than playing politics.

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Western Maharashtra is facing its worst flood crisis in decades. Infrastructure worth hundreds of crores has been lost to the menacing floods.

Even as the floodwater is expected to recede in the next 72 hours, agencies will have a massive task at hand to tackle any health crisis. According to reports, nearly 32 people have lost their lives in the various parts of the state.

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The situation continues to remain grim in the flood-hit districts of Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur and some adjoining areas.

Around 5 lakh people have reportedly been displaced. In the middle of the crisis, there were some emotional and heartwarming scenes witnessed in Rajapur village of Kolhapur where many women folk tied Rakhi to the Navy personnel who were helping them get to safer places.

Even though thousands have been evacuated, there are many in the remote villages waiting for help.

Many even refuse to leave asking who'll take care of the cattle in their absence. Multiple teams of NDRF, Navy, Army and the state agencies are working overnight to reach out to as many people as possible. The state government has set up many relief camps for the affected.

The rehabilitation of the displaced people will be another challenge for the administration.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena sent many trucks from Mumbai loaded with relief material which included food supplies, medicines, water bottles, and daily essentials.

India Today TV interviewed yuva Shiv Sena Chief Aditya Thackeray at the Shiv Sena Bhawan.

He emphasised that the situation was indeed bad in the flood hit areas and the Sena on its part was making all arrangements to help the people.

When asked if the food packets and relief material would have the Sena stamp on them just like the BJP did when they distributed the relief materials, Aditya replied that the food packets had Sena's love in them and not the name.
"I think we should not be getting into these things. Right now the focus should be helping the people," said Aditya Thackeray.

When asked if he felt that the BJP's move was wrong the Yuva Sena chief shied away from giving a direct answer and said that everybody was trying to help at the hour of crisis.

BJP led government got embroiled in a new controversy as the rice and wheat packets meant as relief material had the prominent display of CM Fadnavis and MLA Suresh Halwankar's picture in them.

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The opposition had jumped on the opportunity saying that the government was more interested in publicity even at the hour of crisis.

India Today TV had yesterday displayed the contents of a report that showed how the mismanagement on part of the dam operators had deepened the crisis in the state.

These issues are a matter of investigation and details will come out with time said Aditya Thackeray.

He avoided answering questions on water resources minister Girish Mahajan, who recently had to face a lot of criticism for being part of a selfie in the middle of a rescue operation.

CM Devendra Fadnavis was at the Mantralaya Control Room on Sunday taking stock of the relief and rescue operations. He interacted with senior officials to formulate a policy for the flood-hit areas.