Heavy rains have lashed Madhya Pradesh claiming eight lives in rain-related incidents. In the last two days, over 7,000 people stranded in 454 villages of 12 districts were evacuated, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday.

While the downpour has marred the normal life of people, it has also affected religious places in the state. Due to incessant rainfall, the Pashupatinath temple in Mandsaur district has been flooded. Floodwater entered the Mandsaur temple on Sunday, leading to the partial submersion of Lord Shiva’s idol.

Chouhan said that efforts are currently underway to evacuate around 1,200 people stranded in 40 flooded villages of the state. As of now, 9,300 people are staying in 170 relief camps in the state, the chief minister said.

“Eight people have died in wall collapses and swollen nullahs so far,” Chouhan said after calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inform him about the situation in the state. 

Heavy rainfall is expected in Indore, Ujjain, Shajapur, Ratlam, Dewas, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Mandsaur and Neemuch in next 24 hours. Authorities in these districts have been alerted, the chief minister said.