Jagdalpur, Aug 27
Incessant rains have wreaked havoc in Chhattisgarh's Bastar, claiming four lives after a car was swept away in Jheeram Ghati, officials said on Wednesday.
The victims -- a couple and their two children from Tamil Nadu -- died after their vehicle was washed away while trying to cross the swollen Jheeram Nala on National Highway 30.
According to officials, the incident occurred on Tuesday when a car carrying five people attempted to cross the flooded stretch. While the driver managed to save himself by jumping out, the family was trapped inside and swept away by the strong current.
After an 18-hour-long rescue operation by the district administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the car was recovered on Wednesday with all four bodies inside.
Officials said the bodies have been shifted to Jagdalpur Medical College, and the family’s relatives have been informed.
Continuous downpour has led to the Sabari River overflowing, forcing the closure of traffic at several points along NH-30, which connects Jagdalpur to Sukma.