Torrential rains lashed many parts of Chhattisgarh during the past 24 hours even as the State Government’s contingency plan anticipating scanty rainfall now turned into a full fledged disaster management exercise to move people to safer places in regions affected by swelling rivers.
The worst affected in the first spell of heavy rains of the monsoon season is Bastar region where water levels in the rivers had been steadily rising, officials said. Many parts of Bastar lashed by heavy rain during the past 24 hours had already inundated many low lying areas while cutting off some key road links.
While water in major rivers flowing in the region were still flowing below the danger levels, heavy flooding has been reported in the districts of Kanker and Narayanpur as rivers overflowed and breached embankments at some places . The rivers which were on spate include Mairoli, Cheribeda and Kokoda in Narayanpur district. The water of Mairoli river was flowing above two feet of a bridge near Edka village, officials informed.
As a result, residents of more than 25 villages have remained cut off from the district headquarters during the past 24 hours. Similarly, Dudh river in Kanker district has been in spate. Flood water was reaching low laying area due to heavy flooding in the district. Several villages in Antagarh and Paralkot region have remained cut-off.
As a consequence, Kanker District Collector Alarmel Mangai D. has declared a high alert in the district. In Bastar district the the water level was rising in Indravati river considered as the life line of the region, and its tributaries. Officials feared that if the region witnessed rain for another 48 hours, the region could witness heavy flooding. In Dantewada district the water was flowing below warning levels in Sankani and Dankani rivers.
However, heavy rain has disrupted normal life across the district. Although the Narangi river was also in spate, the water level at the river was still remaining below warning level. If rains continued to lash the region, it could trigger flood, they said. Similar is the situation in Sabari and Gorli river in Sukma district and Miganchal, Chitabagu and Indrabati in Bijapur district.
Although water levels in these rivers have yet to reach danger level, officials apprehend things would get serious if the region witnesses further rain.