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Nine bodies were recovered from downstream the Tiware dam in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, after a breach washed away several houses nearby late Tuesday night. At least 15 others are still reported missing.
The breach of the dam occurred around 10 PM Tuesday following very heavy rains over the last two days, cutting off at least seven villages downstream the dam. Officials fear the number of people missing could increase.
As per the information given by the Ratnagiri police, the Tiware dam on a rivulet in Chiplun had started developing cracks after Tuesday evening. Before villagers downstream could be alerted, the dam developed a rupture flooding the villages and hamlets within minutes.
At least 12 houses from a hamlet adjacent to the dam were washed away. Teams from local police, district disaster management cell, fire brigade along with local villagers started the searching for missing villagers. Bodies of two adult males were recovered in the early hours of Wednesday.
The NDRF team stationed in neighbouring Sindhudurg district and those from the Pune headquarters of 5th Battalion of the NDRF were moved for the spot late on Tuesday night.
As the teams reached the spot, they joined the ongoing search and rescue operation with the local administration.