Over 11,000 persons stuck in floods in south and west Madhya Pradesh had been rescued in the past two days by the Army, Air Force and disaster response forces, according to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Around 454 villages in 12 districts of the State were drastically affected by floods, he said. “And the Narmada has broken the record of flooding in 1999,” he added.
Apart from this, 9,300 persons had been taken to 170 relief camps.
Mr Chouhan gave a proper analysis of the situation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday morning. However, later that night he had to request the Army for five helicopters to step up rescue efforts. Until Sunday evening, 267 persons had been airlifted by the Air Force using helicopters.
Further, two columns of the Army having 70 soldiers each were sent to Bari and Bareli in Raisen districts, he added. “Air-lifting of stranded persons will begin in Raisen and Sehore districts.”
Nasrullaganj and Shahganj in Sehore district has been established as base, with those stranded in nearby areas would be brought there. “Rain has stopped at several places. And the discharge from dams has reduced,” said Mr. Chouhan. In Narela of Sehore district, rescuers took to a safe spot five persons sitting on a tree at 2.30 a.m., he added.
Extremely heavy rain from 8.30 a.m. on Saturday to 8.30 a.m. on Sunday was recorded in west M.P. in Hoshangabad, Sehore, Ujjain, Dewas and Agar Malwa districts, said the India Meteorological Department, Bhopal.
