Eight people were killed in rain-related incidents in Rajasthan on Monday, taking the death toll in the past two days to 22, as the spell of heavy rains is likely to continue in the eastern part for the next four to five days, officials said.
Heavy rains over the past two days have caused flooding in Karauli and Hindaun, leading to severe waterlogging in low-lying areas. Overflowing dams and rivers have brought normal life to a standstill.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma undertook a field visit to various parts of the city on Monday evening following incessant rains.
He visited Jawahar Circle, Malviya Nagar, Sanganer and Dher ke Balaji areas and took stock of the situation.
Due to the warning of heavy rains issued by the meteorological department, schools remained closed on Monday in Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, Dausa and Karauli.
In Jaipur, the rain disrupted normal life, with roads flooded and traffic jams reported across the city.
The Jaipur Meteorological Centre spokesperson said heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue in some parts of Jaipur, Bharatpur, Kota and Ajmer divisions of eastern Rajasthan during the next four to five days.
“A flood-like situation has occurred in Karauli and Hindaun towns and NDRF and SDRF teams have evacuated around 100 people to safe places,” said Bhagwat Singh, Joint Secretary, Disaster Management Department.
Twenty-five devotees trapped inside the Trinetra Ganeshji temple in Ranthambore, Sawai Madhopur were rescued by a team of SDRF in an operation that began on Sunday night and concluded on Monday morning.
SDRF commander Rajendra Singh said 17 devotees were rescued till 9.30 pm on Sunday. The rescue operation was called off in the evening and resumed on Monday morning during which six more devotees were rescued.
The bodies of five people who were swept away by Jaipur’s Kanota dam on Sunday night were recovered on Monday. Two others drowned in Galta Kund while bathing, it was reported.
A 30-year-old man in Dausa also died on Monday after being swept away by the strong current of water at the Moroli dam, officials said.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claimed that more than 25 people died in rain-related accidents in the state.
Gehlot, who tagged Sharma in a social media post, said, “More than 25 lives have been lost due to heavy rains and related accidents across the state. It is unfortunate that in a disaster situation like this, the public is not aware whether the state Disaster Relief Minister is in office or whether his resignation has been accepted.”
“Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma should clarify the situation so that proper follow-up can be done and instructions for relief and rescue operations can be issued. Such a state of confusion in difficult circumstances is like misleading the people of the state,” he said.
Following the BJP’s disappointing performance in the state’s Lok Sabha elections, Agriculture and Disaster Relief Minister Kirori Lal Meena recently announced his resignation from the ministerial post. However, his resignation has not been officially accepted yet.
Meena said he will tour Mahua, Weir, Bayana, Hindaun, Karauli, Gangapur and Sawai Madhopur on Tuesday where excessive rains have caused chaos.
He also said that he would give necessary guidelines and directions to the administration after assessing the situation.
Meanwhile, the prime minister posted a video in which he said he was constantly monitoring the situation and stated that the safety of those affected was his “top priority.”
“It has been raining non-stop in the state for the past few days. In many places, the rainfall has broken records. I am constantly monitoring the situation. In some places there are waterlogging and flood-like situations and there is also a strong flow in the rivers. Water is also continuously entering the dams,” he said in the video.
Sharma appealed to people to avoid bathing in rivers or other water bodies, stay away from electric poles and wires and avoid using basements of buildings during the rainy season for safety reasons.
“This spell of rain is likely to continue. I appeal to all of you to take the warnings issued by the meteorological department seriously and take all necessary precautions,” the Chief Minister said.
“The state government stands with the people of the state. The rescue team is working diligently in the district. Safety of the affected people is our top priority,” he said.
Continuous rains have affected life in many districts of Rajasthan, including the capital Jaipur.
In the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Monday, Jaipur recorded 118 mm of rain, Ramgarh Pachwara in Dausa received 258 mm of rain and Sapotra in Karauli received 207 mm of rain.
Lalsot and Rauwas in Dausa district received 132 to 178 mm of rain, while many places in Khandar and Bonali of Sawai Madhopur received 117 to 168 mm of rain.
Meanwhile, from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm on Monday, 76.6 mm rainfall was recorded in Jaipur, 38 mm in Sikar, 25 mm in Alwar, 22.5 mm in Anta, 13.8 mm in Ajmer, 11.5 mm in Dholpur, 9.3 mm in Bharatpur.
The Jaipur Meteorological Centre spokesperson said that parts of Bikaner division in western Rajasthan are likely to witness moderate to at times heavy rainfall during the next four to five days. Light to moderate rainfall is likely at sporadic places in Jodhpur and Udaipur divisions.
From June 1 to August 12, Rajasthan recorded 40 per cent more rainfall than normal. The normal rainfall recorded during the corresponding period in the state is 283.9 mm, while this year it has been 397.8 mm.
According to the Meteorological Department, western Rajasthan recorded 56 per cent more rainfall than normal, while eastern Rajasthan recorded 31 per cent more rainfall.
Except Dungarpur and Banswara, almost all districts have recorded normal or excessive rainfall.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: August 12, 2024 | 11:12 PM IS
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