Heavy rains hit life in MP

Bhopal, July 29 (UNI) Heavy rains disrupted life in Madhya Pradesh with Jhabua and Badwani districts being worst-hit where rivers and rivulets were in spate and communication to rural areas was cut off.

Meteorological department director D P Dubey said downpours lashed the state courtesy an upper air cycle that developed over Rajasthan and northern Madhya Pradesh.

A low-pressure area, built over coastal Orissa, was advancing towards the state and good rainfall was expected within three-four days. The monsoon had been active in southeastern MP during the past two days and was advancing towards western MP.

Heavy rains soaked Jhabua for the second consecutive day and more than six rivers -- including Narmada, Anas, Pampavati, Hathni, Sonar, Negadi -- were in spate. Transport communication has been cut off to rural areas, while power and telecommunications has been disrupted.

Alirajpur turned out to be the wettest place in the district recording 17 cm rainfall.

In Badwani, 94 mm rainfall occurred overnight with Pati block receiving most rainfall at 125 mm. Communication to more than a dozen villages was snapped.

Jhabua Collector Rajkumar Pathak told UNI that rescue and relief teams had been alerted in view of heavy rains.

Badwani Sub-divisional Officer Jamuna Bhide said a close vigil was being maintained in villages lying in the Sardar Sarovar Project's submergence zone.

The chief amounts of rainfall recorded overnight included Badwani (10 cm), Jhabua (8), Saulana (6), Ratlam (5), Mangoli (4), Ashoknagar (4), Thandla (4), Khargone (4), Sironj (4), Khurai (4), Maheswar (3), Agar (3) and Sheopurkala (3).

Transport system was thrown out of gear at several places, including Khandwa-Vadodara highway and Jalwania-Khargone road in Badwani, as rivers were in spate.

UNI Team-AD VV1700