In the Balrampur district of Chhattisgarh, the Lutia dam, approximately 40 years old, breached due to heavy rainfall on Tuesday night near Dhanesh village. Three houses located below the dam were completely destroyed. A total of eight people who were asleep in their homes and over 30 cattle, including cows and buffaloes, were swept away by the floodwaters. Two bodies were recovered on Tuesday night, and two more were found on Wednesday morning.
NDRF teams are conducting rescue operations to locate the remaining missing individuals. The entire village is in mourning following the incident. The Lutia dam was filled to capacity. The dam broke around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction in the surrounding area. Three houses located below the dam were completely washed away.
Injured individuals are receiving treatment at the district hospital. The incident also resulted in the loss of over 30 cattle. Eight people were swept away by the strong current, with four confirmed fatalities. Four individuals are still missing. Injured people are being treated at the district hospital. Villagers reported that the dam had been experiencing significant water leakage for the past three to four years. They also mentioned that they repeatedly requested the Water Resources Department to repair the dam, but no action was taken. Villagers further alleged that the dam, constructed in 1976-77, was built without adequate quality control, contributing to the severity of the disaster.
The District Collector and SP promptly arrived at the scene following the dam breach to assess the situation. The NDRF team was immediately summoned, and rescue operations commenced. Relief supplies, including food and shelter, were promptly arranged for the affected families. The district administration team is currently on-site with the rescue team.
Families affected by the disaster claim that the district administration has only provided accommodation in the Panchayat Bhavan and no other assistance. The SDM stated that arrangements have been made for the affected families to stay and receive food. The district administration team is assessing the damage to livestock, and relief will be provided as soon as possible. The administration is continuously engaged in relief efforts.