Rajgarh van swept into drain: 5 dead, 3 missing as heavy rain batters Madhya Pradesh
Synopsis
A van carrying 11 people — including four children — was swept 20 feet into a flooded drain in Rajgarh after the driver unknowingly drove onto a submerged under-construction bridge. Five bodies have been recovered; three people remain missing. The tragedy is the deadliest single incident in a day of widespread monsoon flooding that paralysed Bhopal and several other Madhya Pradesh districts.
Key Takeaways
Five people died and three remain missing after a van was swept into the Jhiri drain in Rajgarh on 10 August .
The van carried 11 passengers — three men, four women, and four children — travelling from Satwas, Dewas to Kadlavad village .
The vehicle was swept approximately 20 feet into the drain after the driver drove onto a submerged under-construction bridge on the Pachore-Sarangpur road .
A rescue operation led by SDM Rohit Bamhore and SDOP Arvind Singh , with NDRF support, was under way till late Monday evening.
Bhopal received around seven inches of rain in 24 hours; schools were shut and traffic halted on the Bhopal-Bairasia road .
Flooding also affected Shajapur , Vidisha , Akodia , Salsalai , Raisen , and Mandla .
At least five people died and three remain missing in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday, 10 August, after a van carrying 11 passengers was swept into a rain-swollen drain, while heavy rainfall triggered waterlogging, flooding, and widespread disruption across the state.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
The incident occurred near Padana town on the Pachore-Sarangpur road when the vehicle, travelling from Satwas in Dewas district to Kadlavad village, was driven onto an under-construction bridge that was submerged under floodwater. According to police, the driver failed to notice the incomplete structure as rainwater was flowing over it, and the van was swept approximately 20 feet into the Jhiri drain.
The vehicle carried three men, four women, and four children. Three occupants managed to escape; five bodies have since been recovered, though their identities are yet to be confirmed, police said. Three persons remain unaccounted for.
'Three people managed to get out. So far, five bodies have been recovered. The identities are yet to be confirmed,' a police officer said.
Rescue Operations Under Way
A search and rescue operation led by SDM Rohit Bamhore and SDOP Arvind Singh was under way till late evening on Monday. Authorities said further details about the incident were being gathered.
Separately, on Sunday, police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel evacuated saints and devotees stranded at Jal Mandir in Khilchipur, Rajgarh, after the water level of the Gadganga River rose suddenly.
Bhopal and Other Districts Hit Hard
The state capital Bhopal recorded around seven inches of rain in the preceding 24 hours, causing widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls, and the closure of schools as a precautionary measure. On the Bhopal-Bairasia road, traffic was halted after water began flowing over the Itkhedi bridge.
Minister Vishvas Sarang visited flood-affected areas and directed officials to expedite relief measures and drain-cleaning operations.
Flooding was also reported in Mandla, where the Chhota Pul remained submerged despite a partial decline in the Narmada river's water level. Water entered homes, shops, and government buildings in Shajapur, Vidisha, Akodia, Salsalai, and Raisen.
Impact on Daily Life and Agriculture
Rivers and streams across the state continued to swell, keeping rescue and relief teams deployed in multiple districts. Transportation networks were severely disrupted, with flooded roads cutting off several areas. Farmers, however, noted that the sustained rains would benefit standing crops during the critical monsoon season.
With rescue operations ongoing and three persons still missing, authorities are monitoring river levels and weather conditions closely as the monsoon system shows no immediate sign of easing.
Point of View
Floodwater obscuring the hazard, and a driver with no warning. Five deaths and three missing persons later, the question is not just about this one incident but about why under-construction bridges across Madhya Pradesh are routinely left without physical barriers or signage during the monsoon. The state's flood-response machinery — NDRF deployments, ministerial visits, drain-cleaning orders — is reactive by design. Until infrastructure hazard-marking becomes mandatory and enforced before the monsoon season, tragedies of this kind will continue to repeat themselves year after year.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh on 10 August?
A van carrying 11 people was swept into the rain-swollen Jhiri drain near Padana town in Rajgarh after the driver drove onto a submerged under-construction bridge on the Pachore-Sarangpur road. Five bodies have been recovered and three persons remain missing.
Who was in the van that was swept away in Rajgarh?
The vehicle carried 11 passengers — three men, four women, and four children — who were travelling from Satwas in Dewas district to Kadlavad village. Three occupants managed to escape; five have been confirmed dead and three are still missing.
What is the status of the rescue operation in Rajgarh?
A rescue operation led by SDM Rohit Bamhore and SDOP Arvind Singh, supported by NDRF personnel, was under way till late Monday evening. Authorities said the identities of the five recovered bodies had not yet been confirmed.
How badly was Bhopal affected by the heavy rain on 10 August?
Bhopal received around seven inches of rain in 24 hours, leading to widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls, and school closures. Traffic on the Bhopal-Bairasia road was halted after water overflowed the Itkhedi bridge.
Which other districts in Madhya Pradesh were affected by flooding?
Flooding was reported in Mandla, Shajapur, Vidisha, Akodia, Salsalai, and Raisen, where water entered homes, shops, and government buildings. The Narmada river's water level also remained elevated in Mandla despite a partial decline.
