Bhopal/Rewa, Aug 21 — Heavy rains triggered flood-like conditions in several districts of eastern Madhya Pradesh on Friday, with rivers, including the Narmada and Mandakini, swelling and authorities stepping up rescue and relief operations.
Dindori, Panna, Rewa, Satna and Chhatarpur were among the districts reporting flooding and waterlogging.
Schools in Maihar and Dindori were closed as a precautionary measure, while Anganwadi centres in Dindori were also shut.
In Rewa district, around 3,000 people have been accommodated in 27 relief camps following flooding in several areas, while more than 4,000 people have so far been rescued from floodwaters and shifted to safer locations, according to the district administration’s information on Friday.
Revenue officials, police personnel and rescue teams have been deployed in flood-affected and vulnerable areas and are monitoring the situation, it said.
In Mauganj, the swollen Ashtabhuja River inundated Naigarhi village, trapping four labourers engaged in construction work under the Amrit Yojana. One of them was swept away by the strong current, officials said.
In Dindori, the rising Khermer River forced the closure of the Dindori-Mandla State Highway after water crossed the bridge. Schools up to Class 12 were closed in the district as a precautionary measure. Similar measures were taken in Panna.
In Chitrakoot, the Mandakini River entered the market area following heavy rainfall.
The Gupt Godavari caves were closed to tourists as a precautionary measure.
The IMD has forecast continued rainfall over Madhya Pradesh during the coming days (till August 25), with eastern parts likely to receive significant rainfall.
Rainfall activity is also expected to gradually extend towards central and west-central parts of the state.
According to IMD’s report, Madhya Pradesh has received around 599 mm of rainfall so far against the normal 675.1 mm for the period, according to official weather data. This represents an overall deficit of around 11 per cent, with eastern Madhya Pradesh recording an 11 per cent shortfall and the western region a 12 per cent deficit.
The weather system has been attributed to a well-marked low-pressure area over northeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas, along with the monsoon trough, according to weather scientists in Bhopal.