20 dead as heavy rains lash MP, Rajasthan; rivers on spate

As many as 20 people were killed on Saturday in rain-related incidents in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan even as rivers continued to be in spate in Bihar.

Fifteen deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh since Friday evening as the Met department predicted more showers and sounded heavy downpour alert for some districts on Sunday.

Three Indian Air Force aircraft dropped food packets and medicines in flooded areas of Rewa district, collector Rahul Jain said. Seven people, including a woman and four minors, were killed and three others injured when a house collapsed early on Saturday in Rahatgarh area of Sagar district.

Two people including an old woman were also killed and seven injured on Saturday noon when a newly-constructed building collapsed amid incessant rains at Maihar, Satna district. A jeep carrying two persons was swept away in the swollen Betwa river as it tried to cross a bridge in Raisen district.

Three bodies were recovered from a nullah on Saturday afternoon in Chhattarpur district. 

The victims were in a car which was washed away off a bridge on the flooded nullah on Friday evening. In Rajasthan, five people died when their house collapsed in Phool Baroda village in Baran district due to incessant rains since early on Saturday morning that created flood-like situation in several areas in the state. Several people are feared stranded in Chabra, Chipabarode, Kawai, Harnavadashahaji areas as the Parvan, Parwati, Ujjad and other rivers are overflowing after the rains. The Army was called in the flood-affected areas of Baran district as senior officials also rushed to the spot. 

Meanwhile, two youth were reported as having been swept away by strong current of water in Balapura Dam near Chipabarode town of Baran district. One of them was reportedly rescued hours later while the other is still missing and the search operation is underway.  

At least 24 people were airlifted on Saturday from  Baran district and nearby areas where heavy rains have created a flood-like situation.

Several villages are inundated with water entering buildings, houses and a private power plant in Baran. “Many villagers had climbed trees amid gushing waters and were waiting for help. A MI-17 V5 helicopter from Air Force Station in Phalodi carried out a rescue operation and rescued 24 people from seven different locations,” Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha said.