A sudden breach in a small dam reservoir unleashed a devastating flash flood in Chhattisgarh's Balrampur district, claiming the lives of at least four people and leaving three others missing, officials reported on Wednesday.
The incident occurred late Tuesday night in Dhaneshpur village when a portion of the Luti reservoir, built in the early 1980s, collapsed following heavy rainfall in the region. A torrent of water from the reservoir cascaded through the breach, sweeping onto nearby houses and agricultural fields while residents were asleep.
Tragically, four individuals, including a woman and her mother-in-law, lost their lives in their homes. Three other persons are reported missing, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation by local authorities.
"The four persons died while they were sleeping in their homes. Three persons remain missing and a search operation is underway," a government official stated. District administration and police teams rushed to the spot upon being alerted. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination.
This new disaster adds to the ongoing flood crisis in the state. Earlier last week, incessant rains triggered severe flash floods, inundating vast areas in the Bastar division, including Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, and Bastar districts. Officials confirmed that those floods claimed eight lives, killed 96 livestock, and damaged approximately 495 houses and 16 culverts and bridges.
In response, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai conducted aerial and ground surveys of the flood-affected Bastar and Dantewada districts earlier this week. After his visit, the CM directed officials to expedite relief and rehabilitation measures, underlining the state's priority to ensure timely assistance to affected families.
More than 2,000 people were successfully evacuated to safety during the initial flooding. The Chief Minister personally interacted with evacuees at a relief camp in Dantewada's Chuditikra ward, assuring them of the government's full support. He directed authorities to ensure an uninterrupted supply of food, clean drinking water, and safe shelter in all relief camps.
Reviewing a health camp set up in the area, CM Sai also sought details on the availability of medicines, the deployment of doctors, and primary healthcare services for the displaced. The state government has claimed that flood-hit families have expressed satisfaction with the swift assistance provided by district authorities.
As the search continues for the missing in Balrampur, the state government faces the dual challenge of managing the aftermath of the new dam breach while continuing its extensive relief operations in the southern districts.
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