3 children among 4 of a family killed in flash flood while returning from temple in Chhattisgarh

“The temple is located in the plains below a hill… But the road to the temple is two kilometres long and not motorable during the monsoon season. So, devotees walk their way to the temple on the zig-zag road down the hill. There is also a nullah flowing down the hill,” said a police officer, adding that this was the first time that such an accident had taken place in the area.

At the time of the incident, the Dhruv family was returning from the temple and got stuck on the road due to heavy rain. The nullah overflowed and created a flash flood, which swept away four of them. Around two hours later, the water receded and a search operation was began. The bodies of the four people were found late at night, below a bridge around 500 metres from where they were swept away.

Around 40 members of the extended Dhruv family, from the districts of Baloda Bazar and Bilaspur, had gone to the area on a bus.

Amit Kumar Sahu, a cousin of the deceased, Balram, said, “This was the first time my brother, Balram, visited the temple and had no idea that such a danger could occur. I am not sure if any caution is given by local authorities, but some signboards should be there. He was a labourer and the sole breadwinner in the family. He has two sons aged 10 and 9. His daughter Muskan, too, died in the incident. His wife, who was with him, is in shock. He is survived by his sons, wife and a disabled mother. I appeal to the government to compensate them for their loss.”