68 students trapped in flood in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Aug 7 (UNI) As many as 68 students and an employee of a residential school were trapped in a building under construction marooned with flood water following incessant rains at Kartola village near Gariaband in Raipur district on Chhattisgarh- Orissa border.

As flood water entered the ashram school for tribals, the project officer shifted 68 children to a nearby building under construction.

''Arrangements have been made for motor boats to rescue the students and others from the marooned villages'', Raipur District Collector Vikas Sheel told UNI on telephone while on his way to the village.

Heavy rains continued to lash almost all districts of Chhattisgarh since yesterday, following a depression in the Bay of Bengal. Heavy rains were likely in almost the districts of Chhattisgarh in the next 24 hours, the weather office said.

State capital Raipur was lashed by heavy rains throughout the night, inundating low lying areas and flooding even main roads in the city where drainage system remained non-functional.

A UNI report from Jagdalpur said the entire tribal region of Bastar received heavy rainfall during the last 48 hours. Almost all rivers, including Indrawati, are in spate.

Meanwhile, an official spokesman said all District Collectors in the flood prone areas had been directed to remain alert and to make arrangements for rescue and relief.

UNI