A midnight breach in the Lutti (Satbahini) reservoir in Balrampur district of Chhattisgarh claimed four lives and left three others missing, as floodwaters swept through homes and farmlands.
The incident occurred late on Tuesday after incessant rainfall triggered the collapse of a section of the small dam in Dhaneshpur village. Water gushed down into surrounding areas, submerging houses and agricultural fields.
“Four persons, including a woman and her mother-in-law, died while they were asleep at home. Three persons remain missing and a search operation is underway,” Balrampur Collector Rajendra Katara said. Three others sustained injuries.
The reservoir, constructed in the early 1980s, had been a key source of irrigation in the area. Its sudden failure not only claimed human lives but also destroyed livestock, damaged crops, and left several homes in ruins.
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Rescue efforts by the district administration, police, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force were underway through Wednesday. Relief camps have been set up, and medical assistance is being extended to the injured.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. “The government is monitoring the situation and will provide all possible assistance to the affected families,” he said in a statement. He directed officials to assess the damage, ensure ex-gratia compensation, and arrange temporary shelters, food supplies, and essential items.
Calling the incident “extremely painful,” Sai added that every possible effort was being made to trace the missing persons while long-term rehabilitation measures would follow once the immediate crisis was addressed.
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