Severe Flooding in Chhattisgarh Due to Heavy Rainfall
Flood Conditions Emerge in Chhattisgarh
Recent heavy rainfall has led to flood-like conditions in various regions of Chhattisgarh, inundating low-lying areas, raising water levels in rivers and streams, and disrupting road connectivity in several districts. Tragically, at least five fatalities have been reported due to rain-related incidents. The most affected regions include Raipur, Bastar, and Durg divisions, where numerous roads are submerged, prompting officials to issue alerts for residents living near riverbanks.
Authorities have indicated that additional rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds are expected in parts of the state over the next 24 hours. In Gariband district, a 55-year-old man was swept away while attempting to cross the overflowing Sargi River near Sahaspur village on Wednesday. His body was later discovered approximately five kilometers away near Khuteri village.
Transportation Disruptions Due to Continuous Rain
The ongoing rainfall has severely impacted transportation in Gariband. National Highway-130, which connects Raipur to the neighboring state of Odisha, has been closed due to flooding. Officials reported that roads including Gariband-Mahasamund, Gariband-Nagari-Dhamtari, and Kochbe-Malgav-Kasanala also remain shut. Collector Bhagwan Singh Uike stated that the situation in the district is critical due to persistent rain. He mentioned that 16 out of 21 gates of the Sikasar dam have been opened, releasing 44,000 cusecs of water in response to an inflow of 58,000 cusecs (approximately 12.45 lakh liters per second). As a precaution, over 50 students from the Pantora Government Girls Residential School have been relocated to the safer Baruka village, while villages along the Pari River are on alert.
Emergency Response and Recovery Efforts
In Gariband city, the district hospital premises were submerged under nearly three feet of water, prompting the deployment of police and district administration personnel in sensitive areas. In the neighboring Dhamtari district, officials reported that the water level in the reservoir rose due to heavy rainfall in the catchment area, leading to the opening of the gates of the Sondhur dam. In the Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district, the bodies of a couple who were swept away along with their car while attempting to cross a flooded bridge on July 26 were recovered on Wednesday. Their vehicle was found approximately 150 meters downstream near Chikhli village. In another incident, the body of a 20-year-old man from Durg-Bhilai was recovered on Wednesday after he was swept away while visiting the Damodhara waterfall with friends. His body was located after a rescue operation that lasted nearly 24 hours.