Heavy rains in MP claims 2 more lives; Sonia tours Barmer

New Delhi, Aug 31 (UNI) Heavy overnight rains in Madhya Pradesh inundated several low-lying areas today, claiming two lives, taking the death toll this season to 128 in the state as Congress president Sonia Gandhi met the flood-affected people of Malwa and Kawas villages in Barmer district of Rajasthan and assured them of all possible help.

Residents of three villages in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh have been evacuated as seepage from a breach on the embankment of Piplai dam continued, officials said.

As efforts to plug the breach did not succeed, authorities were engaged in digging a canal to divert water into the Richhan river.

After a gap of nearly a fortnight, intermittent downpours lashed Bhopal and adjoining areas since last night inundating low-lying areas, while all the gates of Bhadbada dam, 12 gates of Kaliasot dam and eight gates of Kolar dam were opened and neighbouring districts alerted. The heavy overnight rains claimed two lives in rain-related incidents taking the death toll this season to 128.

The southwest monsoon has been vigorous in Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha and active in West Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Chattisgarh. It has been subdued over West Rajasthan, Saurashtra, Kutch, Marathwada, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Interior Karnatka and Kerala.

Meanwhile, when Ms Gandhi reached Malwa, the people urged her to provide them Rs five lakh each for rebuilding their collapsed houses and begin the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREG)in the region.

Stating that the flood in Barmer was unexpected, she said the work of draining out the flood water should begin immediately and promised that the Centre would provide all possible assistance.

Senior BJP leader and party in charge of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra also appealed to people to render assistance for reconstruction of the flood- devastated villages in Barmer district.

Addressing a press conference in Jaipur after visiting the district where 104 people were killed in the flash floods, he said the destruction was ''enormous'' and expresed satisfaction over the progress of the relief work.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly N Dharam Singh today urged the state government to speed up the relief work in the flood and drought-hit areas.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said with the union government announcing an interim relief of Rs 250 crore to take up relief works yesterday, the state government should initiate immediate steps to take up relief work on a war footing. It should also hold periodical review meetings to ensure proper implementation of works and better utilisation of central funds, he said.

In Uttar Pradesh, however, three divisions -- Jhansi, Meerut and Saharanpur -- are in the grip of drought like situation, whereas 23 districts have witnessed less the 50 per cent of rainfall in the current monsoon. the state revenue minister Ambika Choudhury said there was an average 22 per cent less rainfall betwen June to August.

The rains, influenced under the low pressure in coastal Orissa, have lessened in West Bengal with the low pressure over Bay of Bengal weakening, Met officials said.

The relatively cool weather brought about in Delhi by Tuesday night's heavy showers continued today even as the clouds hovering over the skyline indicated possibility of more showers later today as well as in the next few days.

UNI Team PR RP VC1915