Chhattisgarh has witnessed a substantial rescue operation over the past two days, with nearly 5,000 individuals saved as rivers swelled due to heavy rainfall. Reports confirm that 16 people were airlifted as flood-like conditions intensified across multiple districts. Officials noted that while rainfall has decreased, water levels remain perilously high, driven by continued upstream inflow and dam releases.

The most severely impacted districts include Bastar, Dhamtari, Bilaspur, Durg, Raipur, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, and Narayanpur. Rescue teams are actively relocating affected residents to relief camps and safer locations, with ongoing search operations to locate reported missing persons.

In Bastar, over 1,000 individuals have been rescued and shifted to relief camps within the last 24 hours, according to an official in Jagdalpur. Additionally, a helicopter was deployed to retrieve 16 stranded individuals in the Dongaghat area on Sunday morning.

Ongoing Search and Relief Efforts

The local administration has established 43 relief camps in both urban and rural settings, providing over 5,000 affected individuals with shelter, food, and basic necessities. The Indravati River reached a critical height of 12.56 metres by 8 pm on Saturday, exceeding the danger mark by 4.26 metres. Consequently, officials have heightened surveillance in low-lying areas, monitoring vulnerable locations continuously and facilitating evacuations as necessary.

Bastar’s Collector, Akash Chhikara, alongside Superintendent of Police, Shalabh Sinha, conducted site visits in areas such as Dongaghat and Asna. They inspected the conditions at a relief camp located in Panarapara. In a separate operation, officials rescued six men, including truck drivers and helpers, stranded on National Highway-30 near Sonarpal due to floodwaters.

These individuals had sought refuge on their vehicle roofs and managed to communicate with the authorities through video messages. The extent of the flooding has prompted notable incidents, including a video from Dhamtari showing locals attempting to salvage liquor bottles swept away by the rising Mahanadi River.

Casualties and Continued Flood Vigilance

Amidst the rescue efforts, tragic reports emerged, including the case of a 65-year-old retired forest employee, Babulal Sahu, who went missing in Sirsida village. His belongings were found at the riverbank, intensifying fears regarding his fate. Additionally, a 15-year-old girl, Tarana Nishad, was swept away by a rivulet near Megha village and remains unaccounted for.

Search operations are ongoing for both missing individuals, with police and State Disaster Response Force teams deployed to facilitate these efforts. In another incident, nine individuals were rescued from the Lomash Rishi Ashram in the Kurud area, aided by local residents and police assistance. Enhanced efforts are in progress to rescue people trapped due to waterlogging, notably at a liquor shop in Nari village.

In Bilaspur, two boys, aged 12 and 16, were swept away while bathing in the swollen Arpa River at Madhuban Ghat. Authorities recovered the body of one of the boys late on Saturday night, while ongoing searches continue for the other. In Durg district, approximately 764 individuals were rescued as rain inundated around 200 houses in rural and urban areas. Temporary relief camps have been established to ensure adequate food and water supplies are available.

In Raipur, flooding affected several villages along the river in the Abhanpur area, prompting the relocation of around 2,000 people to safer locations. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Tankram Verma visited the affected areas and provided assistance to impacted individuals. Rescue and relief operations are continuing as the situation remains challenging across the flooded districts in Chhattisgarh, with search efforts still active in Dhamtari and Bilaspur.

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