Ten swept away, villages surrounded by water after dam burst

Balaghat, Aug 20: At least ten people were today feared dead as a 125-year-old dam burst and water gushed sweeping 12 villages of Madhya Pradesh while eleven other rain-related deaths were reported in the state in last 48 hours.
A crack measuring 3 meters developed in the dam this morning which widened to about 5 meters before it burst.
Officials said a large number of cattle were feared to have been swept away in the villages lashed by heavy rains.
Balaghat district administration swung into action and advised residents to move to safer places. But around 100 families at Banera village were still surrounded by water.
District Collector Dr Rajesh Rajora told a news agency that he had spoken to chief secretary A V Singh about the need for deploying army helicopter for evacuating the marooned people.
He said families from these villages had been shifted. The villages affected include Banera, Katera, Jobli, Kosbi, Jaam and Singodi.

Meanwhile, at least 11 people have been killed in wall collapses and drowning in the last two days in the state which witnessed torrential rains.

According to official sources, two persons died in Hoshangabad district, four in Betul, two in Jabalpur and one each in Damoh, Bhind and Harda districts.

The state flood control room said flood situation was improving rapidly in Balaghat district as the level of the Narmada river was receding fast in Hoshangabad.

Bureau Report