MP: Heavy rain floods Narmada, cuts Dindori-Jabalpur road link; schools to remain closed

Dindori (Madhya Pradesh), Aug 9 (IANS) Heavy rainfall and rising water levels in the Narmada river disrupted normal life in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district for the last two days, with two bridges submerged and road connectivity with Jabalpur snapped, according to the district administration on Sunday.

A bridge in Dindori town and another at Jogi Tikariya on the Jabalpur-Amarkantak National Highway were submerged after the Narmada rose sharply following two days of continuous rainfall.

Vehicular movement on both bridges has been stopped and police have installed barricades and ropes to prevent people from attempting to cross them.

Police personnel have also been deployed at the sites as a precautionary measure.

The rising water has also affected low-lying areas along the river.

Seven families living close to the riverbank have been shifted to a shelter home in a safer area, while officials are monitoring the situation in Hans Nagar and Saket Nagar, where rising backwater could pose a threat to houses.

Dindori Collector Anju Pawan Bhadoria and Superintendent of Police Ashish Khare inspected the Maa Narmada Bridge and other affected areas and directed officials to maintain continuous vigil.

“Police and revenue teams have been deployed along the riverbank and the situation is being continuously monitored. People have already been alerted and should avoid visiting waterlogged and flood-affected areas,” the district administration said in a statement on Sunday.

In a separate rain-related incident, a seven-year-old boy, Raja, the son of Vishram, died after a mud house collapsed late Saturday night at Nadiya Tola under Karaunda Gram Panchayat in the Gadasarai police station area.

Police recovered the body from the debris and handed it over to the family after the post-mortem.

In view of the heavy rainfall and the prevailing conditions, the district administration has declared a holiday on August 10 for all government and private schools, including CBSE, Navodaya and Kendriya Vidyalayas, from nursery to Class 12.

Children at all Anganwadi centres in the district will also remain closed on Monday.

Teachers and other school staff, however, have been directed to report to their respective workplaces.

“The holiday has been declared in view of continuous heavy rainfall, keeping the safety of children as the top priority. Necessary arrangements have also been directed to be made,” the district administration said.

According to the India Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall at most places in Dindori and Jabalpur, indicating that wet conditions are likely to continue.

The district administration has appealed to people to remain indoors during heavy rain and avoid rivers, streams, bridges, culverts and waterlogged areas.

It has also urged residents not to attempt to cross submerged roads or bridges.

–IANS

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