Heavy rainfall in eastern and central Madhya Pradesh since last Wednesday has claimed over 28 lives, while thousands of people are stranded in remote villages of Rewa, Satna, Katni and Raisen districts. Army and NDRF has been deployed in these areas.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan rushed to Satna in a train to oversee relief and rescue operations as he could not fly due to bad weather.
He has asked the state administration to keep a strict vigil in the areas reporting heavy rains and to ensure availability of adequate stock of medicines in the flood affected areas to avert the possibility of outbreak of diseases.
According to a state government official release, over 35 villages in Rewa district and 62 of Satna are badly hit, while 41 of Panna and several others in Raisen, Katni, Rajgarh are also affected.
As many as 4,215 people have been rescued. Three rivers of Satna—Tamas, Simrawal and Chhoti Tamas are over flowing. Six local areas of Rewa have been badly hit. In last 20 hours, 550 persons have been rescued. Similarly, 505 persons of Jawa and Tyonthar Tehsils have also been rescued safely. A total of 1,550 persons in Rewa district have been saved. Besides, 144 in Panna district have been evacuated, the release said.
Three teams of NDRF and 12 of SDRF are carrying out rescue operations in the affected areas and 33 DRC are also in operation. Army, too, has been deployed. Two helicopters have been kept at Satna to facilitate rescue operations and 30 motorboats are taking people to safer places.
In Rewa, as many as 38 relief camps have given shelter to 3,500 affected persons, while in Satna 26 camps are sheltering 2,500 persons. About 100 persons are staying in three camps in Panna.
In Satna a state-level cricket player and coach Babloo Martin was killed when he tried to save a child from a falling building. The building was constructed by MP Housing Board last year.
During last 24 hours, 28 persons, including seven of Rahatgarh and two in Katni, died due to collapse of houses and three persons each in Chattarpur and Sanchi were washed away. The chief minister announced relief assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of victims. Relief operations are underway on a war-footing. The chief secretary of state Anthony De Sa and other senior officials are constantly monitoring the situation.
