Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar appealed to political leaders to not disturb the relief and rescue work by avoiding ‘disaster tourism’ of the state’s flood and landslide-affected sites. The suggestion came on Tuesday when Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was criticised for taking BJP’s suspended legislator Ashish Shelar on board during his visit to the Konkan region.

Pawar said the VIPs who are not involved in day-to-day work and relief measures should not visit disaster sites. “The CM, DCM and guardian minister must visit the sites to understand the situation and guide the administration. However, many people who have no reasons whatsoever go there as well. It affects the relief work,” he said, announcing a relief package by the NCP-controlled Rashtravadi Welfare Trust. The aid comprising essential utensils will be distributed to the families from the affected areas.