Boats deployed in Indore's Nand Bagh to rescue locals

Boats were deployed on the water-logged streets of Nand Bagh colony to rescue locals stuck in the area, civic authorities said on Monday. The colony, mostly inhabited by slum dwellers, is one of the low-lying areas in the city that was inundated following the torrential rain.

According to locals, rainwater from nearby settlements had made streams into the Nand Bagh colony, as the drainage system in the locality was clogged, forcing water to spill over on roads and streets.

Talking to HT on Monday, Prashant Ahriwar, a resident of Nand Bagh, who was rescued on Sunday, said: “Initially, when the rainwater started filling in, we tried to get out using long ropes, but current in the water was so swift that we feared that our children may get hurt. So we waited for the water to recede or the rescue teams to come.”

“After several complaints, a municipal corporation team came to the area and started evacuating people on boats as by this time water had entered our houses and damaged walls,” he said.

This is however not the first time that the locality was inundated during the monsoon. “It happens almost every year during the rains, but the corporation takes least interest to address the problems of the lower economic group,” said another local, Bhagwat Patel. “The ward corporator has never visited this area. For last two days we are living in darkness as power connection to the area was snapped.”

Meanwhile, rainwater receded for a brief period in the area on Monday morning, but afternoon downpour again brought the woes back.