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Updated: Oct 04, 2019 23:59 IST

Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest number of deaths in the country during the monsoon this year, caused by excessive rain, flood and lightning, a government official said on Friday.

According to the revenue department’s official figure, as many as 674 people died due to excessive rain, flood and lightning from June 1 to September 30. Thus on an average, more than 5 people died every day.

As per a news agency report attributed to home ministry officials, as many as 1,900 people were reported to have lost their lives due to rains and flood across the country. Out of these 1,900 people, 182 died in Madhya Pradesh as per the report.

“I can’t comment on any figure coming from somewhere regarding the country or Madhya Pradesh but Madhya Pradesh has seen the highest number of deaths this year in at least more than 3 decades from 1996 onward in the state”, Manish Rastogi, principal secretary, Revenue told Hindustan Times.

Rastogi said sometimes deaths caused due to drowning, lightning etc were not reported to the police but as per information collected by the revenue department, 674 people had died in the state due to floods and lightning.

He said besides 674 dead, 18 people became victims of physical disabilities and 3 people suffered serious injuries. About 1,515 dairy cattle, 373 other cattle and 3,270 fowl were killed due to excessive rain and floods.

The principal secretary said, “Out of the 52 districts of the state, 39 districts suffered heavy losses. The affected crops were worth Rs 16,270 crore on about 60.47 lakh hectare land. About 1.18 lakh houses including kutcha and pucca houses and also huts were damaged partially or completely.

Meanwhile, chief minister Kamal Nath called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday and urged him to send a Central study team again to the state so that the actual assessment of the damage could be done, as per the state government spokesperson.

The CM also urged PM Modi to declare the state as a severe calamity-hit state and release financial assistance of Rs 9,000 crore immediately ‘for infrastructure reconstruction so that loss caused to the farmers and common people could be compensated immediately’.

(With inputs from agencies).