Had forest officials not razed their homes in the plains, the lives of 22 Irsalwadi villagers could have been saved, according to Boma Bihir. Two years ago, a small mudslide created panic among the villagers and gradually, most of them settled down the hillock. However, forest officials allegedly demolished their houses twice since, Bihir and other villagers said on Friday. The 85-year-old man, who has arrived from a village nearby, climbed for two hours to look for his daughter and her family who are still trapped under the debris from the landslide on Wednesday night.

Most villagers of Irsalwadi, now buried under debris and muck, painted the same picture of apathy and neglect on the part of the forest officials. A few villagers said they tried to settle in the plains even six months back, but their houses were demolished. Of the 48-odd huts, merely six-eight are standing intact, while the remaining houses are buried deep under mud and rocks. Relatives and family members, who live in nearby villages, have been assisting the rescue teams, hoping to find their loved ones alive or even their bodies.

Mahesh Parde, resident, Irsalwadi

Bihir, who arrived soon after the incident, climbed 5 km for two hours in search of his 35-year-old daughter, her husband and their children, and other relatives. A total of nine members of his family are buried there, he told mid-day.

Hoping to find kin alive

His determination to find his daughter and her family despite his old age shows the depth of his love and concern for his family’s well-being. “I have been coming up here for the past two days, hoping that my daughter will be found soon,” said a teary-eyed Bihir. My daughter had told me that a mudslide had occurred nearby and a large rock came rolling down less than two years ago. Panicked, villagers decided to settle down the hill. “My daughter and her family built a house down the hillock. But, unfortunately, it was later demolished by forest officials and they were forced to return to Irsalwadi,” Bihir said.

Time to leave village

Mahesh Parde, 35, a resident of Irsalwadi, had a narrow escape on Wednesday night when the landslide struck. His house is among the few that were untouched by the disaster. Reflecting on the events leading up to the tragedy, Parde shared, “It is true that before this massive landslide, two minor mudslides had been reported near our village, causing widespread panic and fear for life. In search of a safe place, we decided to set up a house down the hill.

Villagers have been climbing uphill, with the hope of seeing their loved ones alive, since the landslide on Wednesday night. Pics/Faizan Khan

However, our attempts were met with disappointment, as forest officials demolished the hut twice, stating that it was illegal. Despite being aware of the risks our village faced, they provided us with no viable alternatives. Helpless, we had no choice but to return to Irsalwadi, where we had been living before this tragedy struck and took everything away from us.”

Recounting the horror of Wednesday night, he added, “Around 10.30 pm, a tree fell and my family and I rushed out of the house and witnessed a terrifying sight. A large chunk of the hill was falling towards our village along with heavy bricks. In no time, the entire village was engulfed by mud. Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t save our relatives who were right next to us; their house was swallowed by mud. Around nine family members are still missing.

“We somehow managed to escape and made our way down here by around 1 am,” Mahesh said. They are staying with a relative now. The emotional attachment to their village, where they were born and raised, and where six generations of their family lived, makes leaving difficult, he said. However, they have been informed by the authorities to leave as soon as possible due to the risk of further landslides.

Fear that search will end

“My family has been living here for six generations. I was born and brought up here. Over the past two years, the situation was becoming a little worrisome, and we tried to settle down the hill. However, forest officials demolished them, leaving us with no options. Now, I have lost everything. I don’t know the whereabouts of my family. I haven’t even seen the faces of my loved ones since the past two days. I heard that the officials may call off the operation as a foul smell has started emanating from the village,” Kamlu Parde told mid-day. Kamlu has been staying put on the hill, desperately hoping that his family members will be located and brought to safety.

80-year-old looks for sister

Jingu Bamne, an 80-year-old resident of Rasayani in Raigadh, who also arrived at the landslide-hit Irsalwadi village, desperately searching for his sister and eight members of her family who are trapped under the debris. Expressing his frustration, he said, “The villagers of Irsalwadi had set up huts down the hill, but forest officials demolished their houses, leaving them with no choice but to return to the village on the hill.”

Boma Bihir has come from a nearby village to look for his daughter and her family (left) Mahesh Parde’s house was unaffected, but he has to move anyway (right) Jingu Bamne is looking for his sister and her family

Parde’s and other villagers’ accounts highlight the challenges and hardships they have faced in their attempts to secure safe living conditions. The lack of suitable alternatives and the devastation caused by the landslide have left them with a sense of loss and uncertainty about their future.

No records of demolition

Yogesh Mhase, the collector of Raigad, responded to the allegations stating, “I have heard about the claims that the villagers attempted to shift down the hills by setting up cottages, and these structures were subsequently demolished by the forest officials. However, at present, we are in the process of verifying the facts, as such information needs to be cross-checked with official records before drawing any conclusions.” He also said that no such demolitions are on official records.

120
Approx no of villagers still trapped

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