Eight killed in Chhattisgarh floods, heavy rains continue in northern India

Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab continued to receive heavy rainfall for the third consecutive day on Thursday. Several highways remained blocked in the states.

In Chhattisgarh, eight persons have died amid floods, triggered by heavy rainfall, in the Bastar division, PTI reported. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday directed officials to extend all possible assistance to the families affected by the floods.

According to a government statement, Sai, who is on a visit to South Korea, held a video conference with officials and collectors in flood-hit Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma districts and reviewed the relief and rehabilitation measures.

In addition to the eight persons, flooding in the region had killed 96 livestock, said state Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma, reported PTI. About 495 houses and 16 culverts and bridges were also damaged.

On Wednesday, an unidentified official said that more than 2,000 persons had been evacuated after incessant rains over the past three days triggered flash floods, inundating vast areas in the region.

Verma said that the situation had started improving on Wednesday night.

The road from Bijapur to Dantewada has opened, the minister added.

“The flooding of a culvert near Chhindgarh between Jagdalpur and Sukma has disrupted vehicular movement,” PTI quoted Verma as saying. “It is likely to be...

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