Flood-like situation in eastern Rajasthan, hundreds moved out
DEEP TROUBLE Normal life hit in Bharatpur district, nearly 400 people have been shifted to shelters, govt schools
BHARATPUR: Hundreds of people have been moved to safer places in eastern Rajasthan after heavy rainfall over the past two days led to flood-like situation in the region and severed road connectivity to many areas.
Incessant rainfall lashed Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli districts inundating several areas over the last few days, while the intensity has reduced since Sunday night, although the Met department on Monday issued a warning for heavy rainfall.
“Flood-like situation affected normal life in the district and nearly 400 people have been shifted to shelters,” Bharatpur district collector Laxminarayan Soni said.
Soni and superintendent of police Kailash Chand Bisnoi are camping at Bayana, where government schools are being used to accommodate people.
Soni said many areas and villages were water-logged but the water level has been gradually reducing.
Ninety Army personnel have been deployed for relief operation.
Dholpur collector Suchi Tyagi said two officers of the Army reviewed the situation on Monday.
“Several villages have been cut off by roads and remain inundated. Policemen have been deployed to prevent people from crossing roads or bridges where water-level is high,” she said, adding that all arrangements for relief and rescue were in place.
Schools in Karauli district have been shut today. “More than 300 people are staying at five-six temporary shelters. Arrangements for food and medicines have been made,” an official, overseeing the relief work, said, asserting that all the people in the district were safe.
A 35-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was camping in Karauli for relief and rescue. Water was released Panchna Dam in Karauli to Bakoli canal in Rupwas. However, electricity supply remained disrupted after four power feeders were damaged due to flooding.
Rajasthan has received excess rainfall so far this season. Against a normal rainfall of 149.85 mm from June 1 to July 17, the state recorded 222.99 mm rainfall, a jump of 48.81 per cent.
Twelve districts — Alwar, Baran, Bharatpur, Chittorgarh, Churu, Dausa, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Karauli, Rajsamand, Sawaimadhopur and Sikar - have received abnormal rainfall (60 per cent or more). Eleven, including Ajmer, Jaipur, Kota and Udaipur, received excess rains (20 per cent to 59 per cent).
Despite this, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Sirohi have had deficit rains while Barmer, Jalore and Sri Ganganagar have had scanty rainfall so far. Remaining four districts — Banswara, Nagaur, Pali and Pratapgarh — have recorded normal rainfall this monsoon. Of the 822 dams in Rajasthan, 36 were fully filled and 391 were partially filled, while 395 are empty, according to water resources department.