Chiplun floods partly man-made disaster: Ratnagiri collector Houses and vehicles submerged in flood water due to heavy rain in Chiplun, Ratnagiri on July 22, 2021. Photo by Sanjay Jog Incessant showers in the hilly regions of Ratnagiri district, illegal constructions near the Vashisthi river bed and discharge of water from the Kolkewadi dam have all combined to cause havoc in the coastal town of Chiplun, officials said on Thursday as the administration sought help from multiple agencies in rescue efforts. More than 50 per cent area of Chiplun, located around 250km from Mumbai and having a population of over 70,000, has got submerged in floodwaters.