Satna/Chitrakoot : Heavy overnight and continuous monsoon rains triggered severe flooding in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district on Saturday, with the sacred Mandakini river overflowing and inundating large parts of the pilgrimage town of Chitrakoot.
The river’s water level rose sharply, crossing the danger mark and surpassing previous records in some areas. Officials reported the Mandakini at Chitrakoot reaching levels significantly higher than the 2003 flood mark in places. Ramghat and Bharatghat were completely submerged, with floodwaters entering homes, shops, and religious complexes along the riverbank. Around 400 shops were affected.
A bridge connecting areas near Ramghat — approximately 300 metres long and 25 feet high — was washed away by the strong current. Roads and railway tracks in parts of the district were flooded, disrupting train services. About 36 villages were placed on high alert.
Majhgawan tehsil (where Chitrakoot is located) recorded more than 148 mm of rainfall between Friday morning and Saturday evening, while neighbouring Birsinghpur received around 122 mm. In some stretches, 10-12 cm of rain fell in just a few hours. Waterlogging was also reported in low-lying areas of Satna city and other parts of the district, including Raghuraj Nagar and Nagod.
Satna Collector Satish Kumar S confirmed that two Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service on Saturday evening for rescue operations and aerial reconnaissance. The choppers later returned to base due to poor visibility and may be redeployed if needed. Three State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, along with boats, were engaged in shifting people to safer locations. Six relief shelters were set up for those affected. Officials stated there has been no loss of life so faon A possible dam-related issue in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh was also cited by some officials as worsening the situation on the MP side of the border. The water level in the Mandakini began receding late on Saturday after rainfall eased, though runoff from nearby hills continued to feed the river.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is expected to carry out an aerial inspection of the affected areas on Sunday as he reached Rewa from Delhi and continuously keeping an eye on the situation. District administration continues to monitor the situation closely and has advised people to stay away from riverbanks and flooded zones.