BHOPAL, 8 July 2005 — The central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh saw no let up in floods as rains continued to batter the state. With more than 1.2 million people from 10 districts affected and with the swollen rivers touching the danger mark, the situation in the state remained grim.
Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, meanwhile, demanded 5,000 million rupees in assistance from the federal United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for relief operations.
Federal Minister of State for Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri arrived here as the prime minister’s emissary yesterday. He toured the affected areas. Gaur, who addressed a press conference along with Pachauri, said every effort was being made in the flood-affected areas.
The death toll, he said, had risen from 23 to 37, adding that the situation remained grim in Panna, Damoh and Sagar where the downpour continued for the third day.
Pachauri did an aerial survey of the affected areas yesterday morning, along with MP Revenue Minister Kusum Mehdele. Pachauri said he would strongly recommend 100,000 rupees as ex-gratia compensation to the next of the kin of the deceased. The state government had announced a sum of 50,000 rupees as compensation.
