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© ucanewsDevotees trying to save items from a flooded temple in Ujjain.
Four people were killed and more than 5,000 displaced July 19 following heavy rains in India's Madhya Pradesh state, authorities and Church sources said.

"Many people are marooned, waiting to be saved," said Bishop Sebastian Vadakel of Ujjain, the area worst hit in the state.

The July 19 rains brought floodwater more than a meter-deep in many places, making roads impassable, cutting off villages and sparking power outages.

More than 2,000 people are stranded in railway stations, the bishop said while thousands of others are taking temporary shelter in relief camps.

Authorities did not reveal how the four flood victims died.


The state government has issued an alert after the meteorological department predicted further rain in the area.

Much of Ujjain town — famous for its Hindu temples — is submerged. Rescue and relief teams are working to help people, the inspector-general of Ujjian, V Madhu Kumar said.

He said the government is providing food and water to rescued people, while schools were closed.

Bishop Vadakel said the area has "not seen flooding on this scale in recent years" and it has caused "great damage."

Authorities have saved many but "have yet to reach low lying areas," the prelate told ucanews.com.

He said the Church people are "keeping a watch on the situation" and "would join rescue and relief operations if needed."

The Church needs permission from the state government to do so, he explained.

"It is a very horrible situation we are in the midst of a flood, the like-of which we have not seen before", said Francis Wilson, a local resident.

"The flash flood forced my family to scramble for their lives up to the first floor", he said, adding most residential areas in the area were under water.

"The situation continues to be grim after fresh rain started again on Monday, Wilson said.