Rain continues to lash MP; man swept away in swollen nullah

A 40-year-old man was swept away in a swollen nullah in Ashoknagar district as rain continued to lash Madhya Pradesh on Friday, sending some rivers and drains in spate and hitting normal life in parts of the state.

Around 1,000 people were evacuated to safer places in Barwani and Dhar districts in western MP following flooding caused by heavy downpour in the last 24 hours ended 8.30 am on Friday, officials said.

A truck parked near the Khuj river was swept away after the water body swelled suddenly in Dharmpuri tehsil of Dhar district.

"I got the truck retrieved from the river with the help of a crane, its owner Rakesh Rathore said.

An officer of MPs Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) said the Narmada river was flowing 7 metres above its danger mark of 123.28 in Rajghat village in Barwani district at 2 pm Friday.

Fifteen sluice gates of the Bargi dam built on the river Narmada in Jabalpur district were opened following incessant rain in eastern Madhya Pradesh, the officials said.

Three persons on a motorbike were swept away in a swollen nullah at around 11.30 pm on Thursday on Mohri Road in Ashoknagar district, police said.

Two of them swam to safety, but the third rider, Mahendra Singh (40), is still missing, they said.

Police officer P P Mudgil on Friday said efforts were on to search Singh.

Showers are lashing almost the entire MP since the last two days, India Meteorological Departments Bhopal Office Duty Officer P K Shah told PTI.

He said heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in 21 districts, including Rajgarh, Guna, Sehore, Harda and Hoshangabad and in Ujjain and Indore divisions till 8.30 am on Saturday.

Shah said the Tarana area in Dhar received 21 cm rainfall between 8.30 am Thursday and 8.30 am Friday.

Sluice gates of seven of the 28 dams in the state have been opened due to rise in their water level, the officials said.