Heavy, incessant rains have disrupted normal life in most districts of Madhya Pradesh killing eleven people and marooning several hundred others.
To review the situation, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, accompanied by the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, undertook an aerial survey of the worst affected districts.
The Chief Minister announced an assistance of Rs. 1.5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased. Besides, Rs. 5 crore has been sanctioned to the worst affected districts for mitigation and relief operations.
ADVERTISEMENT
As on Monday, three persons were reported dead from Ujjain after a wall caved in, two persons each were washed away in Sehore and Dewas districts, four persons lost their lives in Hoshangabad and two in Damoh district.
On Sunday, 156 bus passengers, stranded between a river and a nullah at Dingrauda village (near Maksi) in Dewas district, were rescued after a 15-hour long operation.
Over the last five days, excessive rainfall has affected Harda, Hoshangabad, Shajapur, Dewas, Ujjain, Vidisha, Damoh and Raisen districts.
ADVERTISEMENT
So far, 7.5 inch rainfall has been registered in Harda, 6 inch in Hoshangabad, 5.5 inch in Ujjain, 3 inch in Ratlam and 4 inch in Shajapur. Water was receding in Harda, but was still reported to be five to seven feet high in some areas.
Incessant rain has resulted in a drop in temperature with Bhopal recording a maximum temperature of 23.5 degree Celsius (lower by six degrees) on Sunday.
Water has inundated fields and houses in several areas, including major urban centres like Indore, Sehore and Ujjain.
The quantum of cattle and crop losses is yet to be fully assessed.
Earlier, Mr. Chouhan had reviewed the flood situation in the State and had directed all the districts to remain fully geared up for relief and rescue operations in view of prediction of further heavy rainfall.
Disaster management teams have been formed in all the districts and about 3,500 persons have been given shelter in relief camps in Harda and Ujjain districts, official sources informed.
The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to the Army, which had been called in on Sunday. According to official sources, army units have been rushed from Bhopal to Maksi and Shajapur.
In Shajapur district, the army helped rescue 290 residents stranded in Karariya village.
Bhopal divisional commissioner has made three motorboats available at Shajapur to aid the rescue and relief operations.