NEW DELHI, Sept 16 (NNN-PTI) – Over 200 people have died and thousands rendered homeless in ravaging floods, due to heavy rains in India’s central state of Madhya Pradesh, over the past several days.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the state received 34 percent excess rains compared to the previous year, leading to floods.
State Chief Minister, Kamal Nath, said that, incessant rains continued in several parts, including Mandsaur, Neemach, Ratlam, Aagar, Shajapur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Khandwa, Bhopal, and Indore districts.
“I am continuously monitoring the overall situation. I am in touch with concerned officials and giving out necessary directions. Relief and rescue work is being carried out and the flood-affected victims are being rehabilitated,” he added.
According to him, efforts were being made to assess the loss of standing crops and farmers would be compensated accordingly. More than 230 houses collapsed, and about 10,000 houses have been partially or completely damaged so far.
The state government released 400,000 Indian Rupees to each family of the deceased as compensation.
Rescue operations by local authorities, in addition to National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, saved the lives of over 8,500 people, who have been shifted to temporary relief camps and shelters.
The state’s Revenue Minister, Govind Singh, said, “Six to eight lakh hectares of land have been affected by the rain and flood, but the actual loss of the crops can only be ascertained after the reports of the ongoing crop damage assessment survey are submitted, by various districts to the state government. Based on the damage assessment through the report, the crop damage will be compensated.”– NNN-PTI