Kolhapur: BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar on Friday assured immediate government assistance to the family of a nine-month-old baby boy who died during a storm in Khalati village on Wednesday evening. The infant, Shrivardhan Anant Shejul, lost his life after strong winds blew away the tin sheets holding his makeshift cradle in Khalati village, located in Sangli's Jat tehsil.
MLA Visits Bereaved Family
The MLA visited the family to offer condolences, calling the incident “extremely tragic and heartbreaking.” Padalkar stated that the administration has been directed to conduct a panchnama at the earliest and provide financial aid and necessary support to the grieving family.
“The natural disaster claimed the life of an innocent child. We share the grief of the Shejul family. The administration must act swiftly and also take stronger preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future,” he said.
Widespread Damage in Storm
The heavy rain accompanied by strong winds on Wednesday night caused widespread damage in the Salgare and Chabukswarwadi areas of Miraj taluka. Several houses lost their roofs, walls collapsed, and trees were uprooted, disrupting normal life. Houses, cowsheds, shops, and sheds suffered substantial financial losses.
The storm also severely impacted agriculture. Fruits like mango, pomegranate, banana, and chikoo, which were in the harvesting stage, were knocked down, resulting in losses worth lakhs of rupees. Vineyards too were damaged, with iron structures bent and wires snapping.
An official from the Sangli district administration said the process of assessing losses through panchnama was under way.
Safety Notices in Satara
In Satara district, authorities are preparing to issue notices to boat operators in the Koyna backwaters over alleged negligence and to ensure strict compliance with safety guidelines. District disaster management head Devidas Tamhane said action would be taken to enforce regulations and prevent future incidents.
Weather Update
Weather conditions across Kolhapur, Satara, and Sangli districts remained partly cloudy on Friday. Following the midweek thunderstorm and gusty winds, maximum temperatures dropped by 2-4 degrees Celsius, settling below 37 degrees Celsius. The weather department has issued a yellow alert for the region till Sunday, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of up to 30-40 kmph.
