Chhattisgarh closes schools as heavy rain causes flooding and cuts off villages

The Chhattisgarh government has declared a holiday for all government, private and aided schools on Saturday after heavy rain caused flooding, waterlogging and transport disruptions in parts of the state. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced the closure on Friday, saying student safety was the priority. He urged parents to keep children at home and asked residents to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel.

The government said continuous rain had inundated low-lying areas, raised water levels in rivers and streams and cut off some villages, particularly in the Bastar division. The division comprises seven districts. Sai directed district collectors to maintain full readiness for relief and rescue operations.

District administrations, police, urban local bodies, panchayats and other departments were told to coordinate assistance during emergencies. Officials were also instructed to monitor settlements near rivers and streams, arrange safe shelters and ensure access to food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies. Residents were warned not to enter waterlogged areas or swollen waterways and to follow district advisories.

A rain-related death was reported in Kondagaon. Officials said a 40-year-old farmer drowned after falling into a flooded drain while trying to catch fish in a partially submerged paddy field. Between June 1 and September 25, the state recorded average rainfall of 1,082.4 millimetres, or 100.1% of its 10-year seasonal benchmark.

It received an average of 52.8mm in the previous 24 hours. Balrampur recorded 169.4% of its seasonal average, while Narayanpur had the highest cumulative total at 1,600.4mm. Several districts nevertheless remained below their seasonal averages.