At least seven dead, including two children, as car swept away in Madhya Pradesh flash flood

Seven individuals lost their lives, including two children and a woman, on Monday (August 10, 2026) in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district when a van was swept away during a flash flood, according to police reports. The incident occurred in the early hours of the day when the van attempted to cross a small bridge with water overflowing near Padana village in Sarangpur tehsil. Local authorities and rescue teams swiftly mobilized to assist in the rescue operation.

The van, carrying 11 passengers, including women and children, was washed away by strong currents in the swollen Jhiri stream. Two individuals have been rescued and are currently safe, while rescue efforts are ongoing for the remaining two missing persons. SARANGPUR SUB-DIVISIONAL OFFICER, POLICE (SDOP) Arvind Singh informed The Hindu that approximately 45 villages in the tehsil are grappling with a flood-like situation, while urban areas are experiencing severe water-logging.

The area had received cloudburst-like rainfall since around midnight on Sunday, causing the situation to deteriorate rapidly in several villages. The administration and police have been actively conducting rescue operations since early morning to ensure the safety of those affected. SDOP Arvind Singh mentioned that initial reports indicated negligence on the part of the driver, who proceeded to cross the bridge despite warnings about the high-flowing water levels.