20 dead, 5,000 rescued as heavy rains lash MP; Bhopal worst hit

Heavy rains and subsequent floods continued to wreak havoc across Madhya Pradesh on Saturday claiming 8 more lives while three others were feared dead in various parts of the state over the last 24 hours, taking the toll in the last three days to 20.

While a 75-year-old man and a 20-year-old youth were swept away in flooded nullahs and rivers in Satna district over the last 24 hours, 21-year-old Anand Kushwah, missing since Thursday, was found dead in a flooded nullah in Jawan Singh Colony under Kolgawan police station.

A report from Raisen district said heavy rains for the last two days triggered a house collapse in Takey locality, killing one Naeem Khan on the spot.

Read: Assam floods affect 1.05 lakh, two washed away

The state capital Bhopal had the maximum casualties with six deaths being reported in what is perhaps the heaviest rain witnessed in an entire decade.

Rain-related mishaps killed one 23-year-old Dipak Sahu in Kamla Nagar, a 40-year-old security guard, Prashant Pillai in Koh-e-fiza, and a 21-year-old hotel management student, Saurabh Patil in Chuna Bhatti. Two unidentified men and one Anas Khan were feared dead after being swept away in nullahs in Nishatpura, Bajaria and Atal Nehru Nagar areas. Their bodies were yet to be recovered, police said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the director general (Home Guards and SDRF), MS Gupt said over 5,000 people have been rescued from different parts of the state. As many as 368 disaster rescue centres are being manned by home guards, civil volunteers and SDRF teams, while one company of NDRF has been kept ready for any eventuality.

Heavy rains also worsened the situation in districts adjoining Bhopal, including Vidisha, Hoshangabad and Betul.