Special Correspondent

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Bhopal: Officially 22 persons are officially dead while about 3.5 lakh are affected across 21 districts hit by heavy rainfall and flood in Madhya Pradesh.

Meanwhile, fresh warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in various parts of state has added to the apprehensions of people and recently awakened state administration.

Interestingly, a meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority was held under chairmanship of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday after almost of decade and after heavy rain has started taking early toll this season.

It is only now that the activities of the Authority are being looked into. On Sunday, senior BJP leader Babulal Gaur, dropped recently from cabinet, had questioned the unpreparedness of the state to handle flood situation.

TOLL HIGHER

Though official death toll due to flood is 22, according to sources, the death toll has already crossed 30 due to drowning/getting washed away. At least another 50 have died after being struck by lightning this season.

WARNING

The Regional Meteorological Centre Bhopal has issued high alert (of possible inundation/flooding) for Guna, Hoshangabad, Betul, Ujjain and Agar districts in next 24 hours (till Tuesday afternoon). Alert of somewhat lower degree has also been issued for Rajgarh, Mandsaur, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Dewas, Khandwa, Seoni, Vidisha, Indore, Harda, Shajapur, Sehore and Dhar districts.

Fairly widespread rainfall is expected in almost all parts of Indore, Ujjain, Hoshangabad and Bhopal divisions and Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Sheopur Kalan, Chhatarpur, Satna, Rewa and Panna districts during next 24 hours .

The MeT office has said that presence of three weather systems (a low pressure area over northeast MP, an upper air circulation over southwest MP and a trough line passing from Rajasthan to Bay of Bengal through the low pressure areas is bringing a lot of moisture to Madhya Pradesh. Therefore continuing rainfall activity till at least Wednesday is expected.

REVIEW

During a review meeting on Monday morning, the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan directed the officials to ensure that waterborne diseases do not spread in the affected areas and health camps should be started immediately. He said that samples of drinking water should be checked and stock of medicines should be updated.

7500 RESCUED

During the meeting, it was informed that 3.46 lakh people were affected in 21 districts and 2500 houses had been damaged completely and 18,000 damaged partially. Disaster relief teams had rescued about 7500 people in various districts including 1600 in Vidisha on Sunday.

The CM said that the survey for damages has started so that compensations could be given.

Chief secretary Anthoy de Sa, director general of police Rishi Kumar Shukla, additional chief secretary (home) BP Singh and other officers were present at the meeting.

Photo Courtesy: Mukesh Pandey, Harda