Incessant heavy rain lashed several parts of Chhattisgarh on Friday, triggering flooding, waterlogging and disruption across the state, with a rain-related death reported in Kondagaon and several villages in the Bastar region cut off, officials said.
In view of the severe weather, district administrations declared a holiday for government and private schools in eight districts — Dantewada, Bijapur, Kondagaon, Kanker, Bastar, Gariaband, Dhamtari and Durg. Quarterly examinations scheduled in government schools were also postponed in the affected areas.
Between June 1 and September 25, the state recorded an average rainfall of 1,082.4 mm, which is 100.1% of its 10-year seasonal average of 1,081.5 mm. The state received an average of 52.8 mm rainfall in the 24 hours preceding 8 am on Friday.
Chhattisgarh has received normal rainfall during the monsoon so far, according to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
As of 8 am, the Gangrel reservoir was at 98.14% of its capacity, while Murumsilli was at 100%, Dudhawa at 97.21% and Sondhur at 88.18%. The Raipur, Bastar and Durg divisions witnessed some of the worst impact, with overflowing streams inundating roads and residential areas. In Dhamtari, water levels in major reservoirs rose rapidly following continuous rainfall. Rajnandgaon, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki and Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai districts have also been receiving continuous rainfall since Thursday morning amid an orange alert.
The Meteorological Centre in Raipur has forecast light to moderate rain at most places in the state over the next 24 hours, with isolated heavy rainfall and thunderstorms likely.
