8,000 people marooned in Bastar floods

Heavy monsoon rains since June 11 in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region have inundated dozens of villages and marooned about 8,000 people, mostly tribals, government officials said Saturday.

All major rivers in the region, including Bastar's lifeline Indravati, have been flowing above the danger mark, which prompted authorities to rescue 300 families from catchment areas of the river. Two people were swept away by the swollen Indravati Saturday.

Reports from Bastar, Dantewada and Bijapur districts, confirm that at least 8,000 people have been marooned by the floods.

Bastar region, which is spread out in over 40,000 sq km areas, has been cut off from neighbouring Odisha by road due to incessant rain and overflowing roads.

Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh government has instructed authorities to launch rescue and relief operation in Bastar on a war footing.