Five More Rain Deaths, Toll Rises to Nine

The Jharkhand State Disaster Management Department (SDMD) on Friday reported five more deaths across the state and one incident of a teacher being swept away at Jonha Falls in Ranchi, even as the intensity of rainfall reduced statewide.

- Raj Kumar

RANCHI: The Jharkhand State Disaster Management Department (SDMD) on Friday reported five more deaths across the state and one incident of a teacher being swept away at Jonha Falls in Ranchi, even as the intensity of rainfall reduced statewide. Latehar recorded the maximum rainfall at 51.55 mm.

"Of the five reported deaths, one occurred in Chanho, two in Bijupara (both in Ranchi district), one in Torpa (Khunti), and one in Mango (Jamshedpur). Additionally, one incident of a teacher being swept away surfaced from Jonha Falls in Ranchi, and we have deployed an NDRF team for the recovery," an SDMD official said, adding that the death toll has now increased to nine after four deaths were reported Thursday.

A police official at Chanho police station confirmed three deaths.

"Fakri Oraon (65) died after his neighbour Bira Oraon's house collapsed due to heavy rain on Wednesday. The death came to light late Thursday evening," the official said. He added, "Two children — Archana Kumari (6) and Indra Raj Kumar (4) — went missing from Hutar Bijupara village. Their bodies were recovered on Thursday night from an under-construction well. They had slipped in due to heavy rainfall."

Police in Khunti district confirmed one rain-related death.

"Nineteen-year-old Rajkumar Manjhi died on Thursday in Dodma village under Torpa police station limits. A kutcha wall collapsed after continuous rain, burying him under debris," said a Khunti police official.

In Mango, Jamshedpur, officials reported the fifth death. Sanjay Verma, a 40-year-old night guard at the Srinath Shekhar Building, died late Thursday night after falling into a pothole on a waterlogged road near Chanakyapuri. He was returning home when the accident occurred. The stretch lacked streetlights and had remained submerged due to three consecutive days of heavy rain.

Meanwhile, Angara police identified the teacher swept away at Jonha Falls as Michael Ghosh.