Rain wreaks havoc, six dead in inundated Bhopal; warning for more

Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: Heavy rainfall that has been causing misery to denizens of Madhya Pradesh since last four days shifted its fury to central parts including Bhopal, inundating several areas and killing at least six in the capital city.

The level of inundation was such that boats had to be pressed into rescue services in many localities where people got trapped in their houses as water levels on streets were 5-6 feet.

WARNING

The worrying part is that warning for heavy showers that might cause inundation, continues for Hoshangabad (very heavy showers), Bhopal, Sagar, Damoh, Raisen, Narsinghpur, Betul and Dewas districts till Sunday morning.

Rainfall activity is likely to shift somewhat towards southern and western side and on Saturday and Sunday districts like Satna, Jabalpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Vidisha, Mandla, Seoni, Khandwa, Ujjain, Indore, Chhindwara and Sehore districts are also likely to get heavy rainfall, the MeT office has warned.

The condition of capital city was reminiscent of the massive flooding on August 13/14, 2006, when 21 people were killed in capital as 321mm of rainfall had poured within 12 hours in the city areas. Bhopal Airport had received 291mm of rain on the day

OFFICIAL TOLL IN STATE AT 8

On Saturday morning, the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan conducted an emergency meeting to review the situation and confirmed 8 deaths in state till now including two in Bhopal. The CM announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the dead.

However, during course of day six more deaths due to drowning or getting swept away in flood water were reported from the capital.

Also bodies of two youth who had drowned in Chambal River in Bhind were found while another was reportedly swept away in Jabalpur. At least 50 deaths in different parts of state due to lightning have been reported in past three weeks. The toll has thus gone almost up to 65 now, sources said.

Heavy rainfall also lashed Hoshangabad, Raisen, Betul, Rajgarh, Sehore and Vidisha districts in central MP along with Sagar, Damoh and Jabalpur districts, causing heavy disruptions in road traffic and marooning of entire townships and villages. Raisen was cut off from all side due to flooding of rivulets.

Army was called out in Satna and rescued around 4000 people on Thursday and Friday, 600 of whom are still living in camps. About 4000 home guards have been pressed for rescue relief work under the State Disaster Rescue Force.

HIGHEST IN 43 YEARS

Bhopal city received as much as 234.0mm of rainfall in 24 hours till 8.30am on Saturday, while Bhopal Airport recorded 175.4mm of rain. This is probably the highest rainfall to be recorded in 24 hours duration in month of July since year 1973, when about 275.7mm of rain was recorded on July 22.

This time, since much of this rainfall was received within 12 hours (8.30pm of Friday to 8.30am of Saturday), it caused heavy water-logging in many low lying areas, turning them into veritable ponds.

TOLL FREE NUMBER

The state government has issued emergency flood relief number 1079. People can use it toll free to seek help in case of flooding.