Thaindian News

Raipur, Aug 20 (IANS) Torrential rains for the past 50 hours affected life in Chhattisgarh, specially in Bastar division, as water from the swollen Doodh river entered shops and houses at Kanker, flood control room officials said Monday.

Principal Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management department B.L. Agrawal told IANS: “The government is continuously monitoring the situation in the affected areas and necessary arrangements have been put into place. Flood control rooms in all the district headquarters have been asked to remain on alert round-the-clock.”

According to officials of the flood control room at Mantralaya, heavy rains have led to rivers being in spate, affecting traffic on at least half a dozen routes.

In the state capital Raipur, nearly 400 bus services have been terminated due to rains and flood waters inundating roads to Raipur.

Local meteorological department officials said that due to a strong system active in the Bay of Bengal, major parts of Chhattisgarh are receiving heavy rains.

Keshkal and Narayanpur districts registered 260 mm and 230 mm rain, respectively, during the last 50 hours affecting traffic on the Raipur-Jagdalpur route.

Saraipali and Basna districts, bordering Odisha, registered 180 mm and 170 mm rains during last 48 hours due to which the Jonk river is in spate, affecting traffic on the Raipur-Odisha route.

Half a dozen routes including Baloda Bazaar, Saraipali, Basna, Rajim-Mainpur and Chhura have been affected, snapping road links with Raipur.

In Kanker, about 50 houses collapsed and a woman, Parwati Markam, was washed away in the flash flood from the Doodh river.

The road connecting Kanker with Narayanpur was inundated, affecting transportation.

Three houses collapsed at Narayanpur. A stop dam at Chhote Sunari village was washed away.