Bhopal: Army was called out on September 9 for relief and rescue operations in flood-hit areas of Madhya Pradesh, where at least 21 people, including six children, died in Mahakaushal, Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions as the fury of swollen rivers left thousands homeless.

An Army column from Sagar was deputed to carry out relief in Rewa, one of the worst affected districts due to heavy downpour for past one week, while jawans are also likely to reach Satna shortly, official reports said.

Of the 21 deaths confirmed so far due to floods and rains, seven took place in Satna district, six in Rewa, four in Tikamgarh, three in Chhattarpur and one in Hoshangabad, sources said, adding the toll could mount further as information from remote areas were still pouring in.

In the worst flood situation, an elephant was swept away by the strong currents of Mandakini River waters in Satna district and one of the team members that tried to save it was also drowned.

About two dozen relief centres were set up in Satna and Rewa districts sheltering over 4,000 and 3,000 people respectively, but relief work was tardy due to lack of boats.

Similar is the scene in neighbouring Rewa district, where state Assembly Speaker Srinivas Tiwari undertook a tour by a country boat due to disruption of road links.

Tiwari has asked Chief Minister Digvijay Singh to arrange immediate rescue and relief by helicopters.

Besides Satna and Rewa, other severely hit districts are Tikamgarh and Chhattarpur where flood waters have inundated vast areas, destroying houses and crops and displacing human population as also livestock.

PTI