Heavy rains in Chhattisgarh, 600 villages cut off

More than 600 villages in the Naxal-infested Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh remained cut off with the district headquarters due to incessant rains in the region for the past few days.

The vehicular movement on the National Highway-16 was affected as Mingachal River was flowing above the danger mark at various places. Beside Bijapur-Geedam, the Bhopalpatnam road was closed as most of the bridges were submerged.

Water was flowing three to four feet above the danger mark over most of the bridges and nullahs in the area, an official added.

The areas are under the sway of the Naxalites. What perplexed the officials was the presence of large number of security personnel including Central Para-military forces (CPM) that was deployed in the area to combat the red army.

“The force was asked to remain on alert and avoid any operation at this point of time,” a senior state intelligence official said. In case of any emergency, it would be a daunting task for the authorities to send any reinforcement as even choppers could not be pressed into service due to bad weather, he added. A senior legislator was trapped at a place following over-flowing of rivers and nullahs. The Congress legislator from Konta, Kawasi Lakma was supposed to return to Sukma after attending a programme. But he had to return from Kerlapal and camp in Konta.