INDORE: Continuous incessant rainfall on Saturday threw life in the state’s commercial capital completely out of gear.

Indore received more than 10 inches of rain during the day that submerged almost all the major roads while people were seen struggling to somehow cross the waist-high water that also gushed in low-lying areas and prompted authorities to launch a relief and rescue operation.

People woke up to heavy rainfall that continued throughout the night and created flood-like situation in many parts of urban and rural areas.

Local administration with help of SDRF, IMC, home guard and police started rescue and relief work that started by midnight and continued till Saturday evening as the rains only intensified in this duration and increased the level of all water bodies.

People, who opted for public transport, were seen saving themselves from the rains as they waited for vehicles while two-wheeler riders were seen taking a halt beneath trees and under the sheds of roadside structures, when rain intensified at regular intervals.

Traffic jams, especially on BRTS, Ring Road, Jawahar Marg, RNT Marg and all the major squares irritated the commuters as they blamed insufficient drainage system to release the water.

Many people residing in low-lying areas complained of household items getting washed away while damag to the vehicles were also reported in waist-high water at many locations.

The power department also deployed more than 450 staff on the field to restore electricity that was affected due to tree falling at 19 locations and breaking the wire at eight spots.

This affected the power supply from as many as 46 feeders of 11 KV that was resumed by evening.

In this duration, the department received more than 1,700 complaints of power cut while the company had to shut down electricity supply from three transformers due to waterlogging in Kabootar Khana and North Toda.

Indore collector Ilayaraja T, who had on Friday evening declared a holiday of all the schools on Saturday, visited ported in waist-high water at many locations.The power department also deployed more than 450 staff on the field to restore electricity that was affected due to tree falling at 19 locations and breaking the wire at eight spots.

This affected the power supply from as many as 46 feeders of 11 KV that was resumed by evening.

In this duration, the department received more than 1,700 complaints of power cut while the company had to shut down electricity supply from three transformers due to waterlogging in Kabootar Khana and North Toda.

Indore collector Ilayaraja T, who had on Friday evening declared a holiday of all the schools on Saturday, visited IMC control room at 1.30am and alerted all officials about forecast of heavy rainfall.

He said that a total of 230 people were rescued from different locations during the day including a pregnant woman, who was rushed to hospital to deliver a baby.

“We are closely monitoring the situation while coordination has been established with all departments concerned to deal with any situation due to heavy rainfall as expected on Sunday as well,” collector told TOI.

Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava was also present at the control room and oversaw rescue operation.

During the day, he also had a meeting with senior IMC officials and issued them instructions regarding rescue and relief operations.

He also visited Krishnapura Kshatri, Nandlalpura, Manikbagh Road, Choithram Mandir, Rahul Gandhi Nagar, Bhawarkuan, Chandrabhaga Bridge, MG Road and Tapu Nagar that reported waterlogging.

Many organizations prepared food packets and distributed them among the needy persons.Local Congress leaders including MLA Sanjay Shukla, MPCC state secretary Choukse and the divisional spokesperson Amit Chourasia, who also took stock of waterlogging at different locations, slammed IMC over haphazardly implemented nullahtapping work and failing to lay stormwater lines across the city, which led to floodlike situation in many areas.