Heavy rains lash MP, rail traffic restored

Bhopal, July 7 (UNI) Traffic on Itarsi-Nagpur section of Central Railway was restored after remaining disrupted for nearly three hours, as heavy boulders fell on the track due to landslide in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.

Two goods trains, the G T Express, the Jaipur Express, the Southern Express and the Nagpur Agra passenger were delayed.

Normal life was affected in Sheopur, Rajgarh, Khandwa, Betul, Indore and Jhabua districts due to heavy rains, while at least 22 people were killed in rain-related incidents across the state this season, even as the Relief Commissioner confirmed 17 deaths.

In Sheopur, 46 mm rainfall was recorded in two hours raising the water level of 'Seep' and 'Parvati' rivers, resulting in closing down of river near Gorasgaon, Sheopur-Shivpuri road and Sheopur-Kota road near gorasgaon and Jalapura in this district.

Following overnight heavy rains, several localities in Narsinghgarh and Biaora towns were inundated. Many buildings were damaged as flood water from Ajnar river entered Biaora town. Rajgarh recorded about 10 cm rainfall overnight. People in low-lying areas were evacuated and shifted to safer places.

In Khandwa also, about 1500 people affected by flood water were accommodated in relief camps.

In the state capital, heavy rains, which started last night, continued today causing a situation of water-logging in low-lying areas. The district administration has taken precautionary measures.

Bhopal recorded 121 mm rainfall -- with 44.2 mm up to 0800 hours and 76.9 mm during the day-- overnight. So far, the state capital has received 250 mm rainfall.

Talking to UNI, regional meteorological department Director D P Dubey attributed the widespread rainfall to a low-pressure area developed over Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh.

A UNI report from Indore said, one inch overnight rainfall had been recorded. Rains continued to pour even as traffic was thrown out off gear with roads being filled with water. So far, Indore has received 263 mm rainfall.

Meanwhile the meteorological office forecast heavy rains in Bhopal, Jabalpur, Hoshangabad, Indore and Ujjain divisions in the next 48 hours as a low pressure area was moving westward from Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh.

UNI