At least 14 cars were swept away while around 50 tourists ran for safety to higher places in a forest in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district due to a flash flood caused by a river in spate due to incessant rain, police said on Monday.
Around 50 picnickers from Indore, among them kids and women, timely escaped from being swept away by flash floods in Sukri river, on whose banks they were picnicking in Balwarda area of Khargone district of MP on Sunday afternoon. @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard @santwana99 pic.twitter.com/6RfqhBAbBF
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The tourists, including women and children, all from Indore district, were on Sunday evening enjoying a picnic near the Sukdi river in Katkoot forest under Balwada police station limits, Additional Superintendent of Police Jitendra Singh Pawar said.
The water level in the river suddenly rose and flooded the area forcing the picnickers to rush to higher places in the forest to save themselves, leaving their cars and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) behind, the official said.
At least 14 cars, including some SUVs, were swept away by the fast current, he said.
After being alerted, police reached the spot and pulled out 10 cars and SUVs with the help of tractors from local villagers. Three other cars were swept away to distant places, while one was stuck near a bridge, he said.
Boards are now being put up to warn people of the potential danger due to flash floods in the area, officials said.
