Heavy rain creates flood-like situation in MP; army called in Hoshangabad

Chief Minister conducts aerial survey of most-affected Narmada river belt

Shivraj-Chauhan-madhya-pradesh-floods-rains

As very heavy rain batters most parts of Madhya Pradesh including the capital Bhopal, several districts, especially those in the Narmada river belt, are in a grip of a flood-like situation.

The downpour has been ongoing for two days straight and the Regional Meteorological Centre has warned of more in the next 48 hours, putting the state government in high alert mode.

The RMC has issued a red alert for districts like Chhindwara, Vidisha, Sehore, Rajgarh, Shajapur and Agar during the next 48 hours while 18 districts including Bhopal and Indore are on a yellow alert.

Army has been called out to conduct rescue operations in the most-hit Hoshangabad district on the banks of Narmada river. Also, two units of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been sent out to the district and helicopters are also expected to reach the district by evening to conduct rescue and relief work wherever necessary.

Road connectivity has been hit in several places in the state and connection of capital Bhopal with Sagar and Jabalpur districts was cut due to submerged bridges and culverts over rivers and local streams. 

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who held an emergency meeting over the developing flood situation, also conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas in Hoshangabad and Sehore districts along Narmada banks. 

Later, the chief minister said that River Narmada and its major tributaries are in a spate. In Hoshangabad, the river was flowing 9 feet over the danger mark and more rainfall was expected in the next 48 hours.

“However people need not panic. All actions related to relief, rescue and safety of people will be taken up wherever necessary. NDRF teams are active in affected places and more teams are being sent wherever necessary. We have also put the army on alert and assistance of the Air Force will also be taken in necessary,” the CM said.

Chouhan added that other arrangements like helicopters, boats and divers have been made. The CM appealed to the people not to take undue risks and not cross submerged bridges or culverts. Also, people should not go to picnics or outings at dams, waterfalls or other water bodies. He said that the administrations will be alerting people before opening the gates of various dams and people should take such warnings seriously.

“We have put the all districts especially those in Bhopal, Hoshangabad and Jabalpur divisions on constant alert keeping in view the likelihood of heavy rain during next 48 hours,” the CM said.

Reservoirs almost full; dam gates being opened

Due to the continuing heavy rainfall during past two-three days, most of the reservoirs in the state are nearing their full capacity. As many as 120 out of 251 reservoirs are full beyond 90% of capacity requiring dam gates to be opened to let out excess water. This is creating a flood-like situation in the downstream areas.

Bridges and culverts have submerged in several places cutting off the road connectivity, especially in the rural and interior areas. Connection of Bhopal with Sagar and Jabalpur were disrupted as rivers overflowed in Raisen district.

All the 13 gates of Tawa Dam, 22 gates of Indira Sagar Dam, 21 out of 23 gates of Omkareshwar Dam, 14 out of 18 gates of Rajghat Dam, 17 out of 21 of Bargi Dam have been opened. Gates of Mandla and Pench dams have been opened and in Sardar Sarovar reservoir, water is just 7-metres below the high level, a government communique said.

About 150 persons were shifted to safety in Belkheda of Chhindwara. A youth was rescued using a helicopter. In Rahatgarh of Sagar too, families were shifted out to camps. 

In capital Bhopal too, with Upper Lake full and gates of Bhadbhada Dam opened, water started gushing into low-lying areas. Also, Kaliyasote and Kerwa reservoirs are full, requiring shifting of people from low-lying areas.

Excessive rainfall

As on Saturday, 20 out of 51 districts in the state have received excess rainfall. Save for Mandsaur, all other districts have received normal rainfall, data released by the RMC shows. 

Overall, the state has received 815.2mm of rainfall till Saturday morning against the expected rain of 743mm—a 10 per cent excess. Bhopal has received 1022.7mm of rain till now against expected 771.5mm rain—the excess being 33 per cent. Indore with 828mm against expected 632mm of rain has received 31 per cent excess. The highest excess at 40 per cent has been received by Chhindwara district.

During the past 24 hours ending on Saturday morning, Chaurai in Chhindwara received 41cm of rain, Parasia in the same district received 33cm, Harrai and Umreth, also in Chhindwara received 31 and 30cm of rainfall respectively.

Among other places, Pachmarhi received 23cm, Hoshangabad; 20cm, Betul, 16cm; Chhindwar, 14cm while Bhopal received 9.8cm of rainfall in the past 24 hours

Four kids killed in wall collapse

In a tragic incident, four kids, between four and nine years old, were killed when a mud wall collapsed due to heavy rainfall in village Banhara, near Umaria Pan in Dheemarkeda tehsil of Katni district on Saturday afternoon. The kids were playing by the side of a house when its wall collapsed, trapping them, sources said.

In a similar incident, three including a woman and two children killed in mud house collapse in Chandameta Purani Basti in Parasia of Chhindwara district on Saturday, due to continuing heavy rainfall.

So, six children and a woman killed in two incidents. 

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