‘Don’t wish to disrespect the lifeless’: 31 our bodies keep buried, search operation referred to as off on the request of village residents

SOME GARLANDS of marigold and roses lay on the slush as a mark of respect for 31 our bodies that would not be retrieved from beneath the particles of a landslide that hit Taliye village on July 22. The landslide in Raigad district’s Mahad taluka immediately buried 84 folks. Rescuers managed to retrieve 53 our bodies earlier than formally calling a halt to the four-day operation on Monday.
The operation was stopped on the request of village residents, who most popular for the our bodies to stay buried somewhat than pulled out in a mutilated or decomposed situation. Under nonetheless falling rain, they lined as much as pay their final respects, marking the realm with a heap of garlands in a sombre ceremony accepted as a mass funeral.
“After the administration declared them dead, we paid homage to those not found, same as we did to the bodies that were found. Final rites and rituals will also be conducted at the same site where the mishap happened,” mentioned village sarpanch Sampat Chandekar.
Late on Sunday, Taliye residents mentioned the difficulty with the native MLA, district collector, groups of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Target Disaster Response Force (TDRF). It was determined that the operation shall be referred to as off solely after formally acquiring the consent of each lacking particular person’s household, and after rescue groups challenge a proper communication declaring all these lacking as lifeless.
On Monday morning, all village residents gave their assertion in writing in addition to in video after which the district administration referred to as off the search operation.
“We have withdrawn our rescue teams from Taliye. The 31 people missing will be declared dead, following due process. All relatives of missing persons demanded that the operation be closed. Hence, after seeking the opinion of NDRF/SDRF/TDRF and respecting the sentiments of survivors and relatives, rescue operation was called off officially,” mentioned district collector Nidhi Choudhari.
Amol Kondalkar, who misplaced his entire household within the lanslide, mentioned the our bodies of his father and sister weren’t discovered. He mentioned there was no choice however to conform to name off the retrieval of our bodies from beneath the particles after seeing the situation of the our bodies that had been recovered. He additionally expressed remorse that the mission didn’t start earlier.
It took almost 24 hours for the rescue operation to start on the landslide website, as NDRF and SDRF groups may entry the village solely by Friday afternoon because of flooding and heavy rain.
“They have already suffered, now they shouldn’t be disturbed anymore. Had the rescue operation begun earlier, people could have been retrieved alive, or at least all bodies could have been found,” Kondalkar mentioned.

Nikhil Jadhav mentioned he misplaced 14 members of his household, and solely three our bodies may very well be recovered of these. He mentioned he was horrified on the situation of the our bodies retrieved. “It was humiliating for those who have died. We do not want to disrespect the dead,” he added.
Vijay Pande, who misplaced all his relations, together with mother and father, spouse, a five-month-old son and a 10-year-old daughter, mentioned it was higher to permit them to relaxation in peace. “We have been allowed to carry out their last rites here,” he mentioned.