Heavy rains: rail traffic affected

Bhopal, July 7 (UNI) Traffic on Itarsi-Nagpur section of Central Railway was affected as heavy boulders fell on the track due to landslide in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh even as flood situation arose at many places due to overnight rains affecting normal life, official sources said today.

Movement of trains was affected as a boulder fell on the track between Dharakho and Amjhiri stations near Betul around 0900 hours, railway sources said, adding many rivers and rivulets were flowing above the danger level.

Normal life remained paralysed in Rajgarh, Khandwa, Betul and Jhabua districts due to heavy rains, while at least 20 people were killed in rain-related incidents across the state this season, even as the Relief Commissioner confirmed 17 deaths.

Following overnight heavy rains, several localities in Narsinghgarh and Biaora towns were inundated and the affected people were being shifted to safer places. Many buildings were damaged as flood water from Ajnar river entered Biaora town. Rajgarh recorded about 10 cm rainfall overnight.

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

In Indore, a 12-year-old boy was killed and three other members of his family were injured in Banganga area as the roof of the house caved in.

A youth was electrocuted to death after he was washed away in a nullah in Juni-Indore area.

In Jhabua, Bahadur Sagar reservoir was flowing 2 feet above the danger level following overnight rains.

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

UNI