MP: Chitrakoot on high alert as Mandakini river swells; 350 rescued in Satna; IAF choppers, drones deployed; check details and IMD predictions
Satna/Rewa/Singrauli: The district administration in Chitrakoot is on high alert on Sunday following a significant rise in the water levels of the Mandakini River, leading to a flood-like situation in several low-lying areas. Torrential rains caused the Mandakini river to overflow, inundating large parts of the pilgrimage town on the Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh border.
Two Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service on Saturday evening to help stranded people. Several low-lying areas have been impacted, including the prominent Ram Ghat and Nirmohi Akhada. Drone cameras are being utilised to monitor the affected areas, the Chitrakoot police said. Food supplies, medicines, and other essential items are also being delivered to the affected and stranded people.
"Due to the rising water levels of the Mandakini River, a flood-like situation has arisen in the Ram Ghat and Nirmohi Akhada areas. In view of this situation, under the directions of Chitrakoot's Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh, the Chitrakoot Police has conducted surveillance of the flood-affected areas using drone cameras," the police stated in a post on X.
Speaking to reporters, the District Magistrate of Chitrakoot, Pulkit Garg, said that all necessary precautionary measures are being taken, adding that the situation is under control. The DM further urged the public to exercise caution, stating, "The residents of the district are appealed to follow the administration's instructions and avoid going near the river and ghats."
Three State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and rescue teams from NDRF were also engaged in shifting people to safer places.
350 people rescued by SDRF in Satna
More than 350 people have been rescued from the Satna district. "District Commandant Homeguard Satna has informed that the SDRF team is conducting rescue operations even at night. Approximately more than 350 individuals have been rescued across the entire district," Collector Satna's X post read.
"There has been no loss of life....The river's catchment area received 10 cm of rain in just three hours, which led to the situation," Satna Collector Satish Kumar S told media over phone late on Saturday evening.
Satna district public relations officer Rajesh Singh said Majhgawan's neighbouring Birsinghpur tehsil received 122 mm of rain between 8 am on Friday and 8 am on Saturday.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav arrived in Rewa on Saturday to review the flood situation and directed authorities to provide food, clothing and clean drinking water to the affected people.
Chitrakoot likely to receive more rain
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the district is expected to receive light to moderate rain on Sunday and Monday, heavy rain on Tuesday and very heavy rain on Wednesday. The heavy rain alert for Sunday was till 8 am, according to meteorologist S N Sahu.
According to Singh, the water level in the Mandakini had started receding Saturday night after a pause in rainfall, Singh said adding that water from the nearby hills was gushing into the river.