Monsoon throws life off gear in MP

Bhopal, July 31 (UNI) Life was thrown out of as gear flights and road traffic was affected in several parts as downpours lashed Madhya Pradesh's eastern and central parts since last night.

A Regional Meteorological Centre spokesman said this wet spell is likely to continue and downpours would possibly be experienced over the next 48 hours.

Indian, Jet Airways and Air Deccan flights could not touch down here.

The Bhopal-Sagar, Mandla-Dindori road links were severed while Seoni and Shajapur districts were cut off from the surrounding areas.

The state capital recorded 18.0 cm rain overnight with about 135 mm in just five-and-a-half hours.

Boats and Home Guard jawans were pressed into service for rescue efforts.

A cremation ground was inundated under about five feet of water.

The city's maximum rainfall was 275 mm on July 22, 1973.

''About 50 families were shifted to safer places from Mahamayi ka Bagh's low-lying areas,'' said Municipal Commissioner Manish Singh.

With the Narmada's level increaing in Mandla district, several low-lying settlements were flooded in the district headquarters and about 450 familes were shifted to safer places.

Mandla recorded 19 cms of rain overnight.

''The Narmada is flowing at 1,434.45 m at Mandla bridge and that is two m below the danger mark,'' said Collector Subhash Jain.

''A strong low-pressure area exists in the vicinity of Sagar and Jabalpur. Another system is being created in the Bay of Bengal,'' Regional Meteorological Centre Director D P Dubey told UNI.

Bhopal's chief water source Upper Lake and the Kolar reservoir are yet to attain full-tank level.

Sehore, from where the lake receives its main input, is also experiencing downpours and recorded three inches of rain overnight.

A UNI report from Barwani quoted Collector Arun Tiwari as saying, ''Officials were directed to tour villages on the Narmada's banks and maintain a vigil. Relief camps have been set up at 13 places.'' Jabalpur district's Bargi dam level shot up by two m overnight to reach 414.60 m.

UNI Team-AC AB DB2142