Madhya Pradesh: Sudden surge in Khargone river sweeps away 14 cars

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Khargone, Aug 08:
At
least
14
cars
were
swept
away
while
around
50
people
ran
for
safety
to
higher
places
in
a
forest
in
Madhya
Pradesh’s
Khargone
district
due
to
the
sudden
rise
of
water
in
a
river
after
rains,
police
said
on
Monday.

The
people,
including
women
and
children,
all
from
Indore
district,
were
on
Sunday
evening
enjoying
a
picnic
near
the
Sukdi
river
in
Katkoot
forest
under
Balwada
police
station
limits,
Additional
Superintendent
of
Police
Jitendra
Singh
Pawar
said.

Following
rains
in
the
area,
the
river
water
level
suddenly
rose,
according
to
news
agency
PTI.

The
picnickers
rushed
to
higher
places
in
the
forest
to
save
themselves,
leaving
their
cars
and
sports
utility
vehicles
(SUVs)
behind,
the
official
said.

At
least
14
cars,
including
some
SUVs,
were
swept
away
in
the
water,
he
said.

Heavy
rain
continues
to
lash
many
parts
of
Maharashtra

After
being
alerted,
police
reached
the
spot
and
pulled
out
10
cars
and
SUVs
with
the
help
of
tractors
from
local
villagers.

The
cars,
however,
failed
to
start
due
to
technical
glitches
as
water
had
entered
the
vehicles,
the
official
said.
The
picnickers
were
later
sent
to
their
homes
in
other
vehicles,
he
said.

Three
other
cars
were
swept
away
to
far-off
places,
while
one
was
stuck
near
a
bridge
pole,
he
said.
Local
police
have
been
asked
to
put
up
a
board
in
the
area,
informing
about
the
danger
of
sudden
water
surges
at
such
places,
the
official
said.