Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior-Chambal region is battling severe monsoon flooding after “unprecedented heavy rains.” The deluge has impacted 1,171 villages, prompting a large-scale rescue effort involving the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Rescue Operations Underway
In the hard-hit Shivpuri district, rescue teams successfully saved eight people. This included five individuals from Piproudha village and three others who were stranded on a tree for about 24 hours in Beechi village.
Unfortunately, bad weather and continuous heavy rainfall have grounded defense aircraft, making aerial rescue operations difficult.
Government Response
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been in constant contact with local officials and rescue teams, monitoring the situation from an emergency meeting held in Bhopal. He also spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has promised the state all necessary support. Chouhan plans to conduct an aerial survey of the affected areas as soon as weather permits.
According to the chief minister, 1,600 people have been rescued so far, though 200 villages remain under floodwaters. He highlighted that Shivpuri and Sheopur have been particularly affected, with an extraordinary 800 mm of rainfall.
Local Efforts
To ensure public safety, people from affected areas are being moved to relief camps on higher ground. Local officials and ministers, including Mahendra Singh Sisodia and Yashodhara Raje Scindia, are on the ground in Shivpuri to supervise the rescue efforts.
