Pilot writes to PM, seeks central aid for flood-affected areas

Demanding central assistance for the flood affected areas in Rajasthan, Pradesh Congress committee president Sachin Pilot on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the letter, Pilot said that in some parts of Rajasthan floodlike situation has cropped up, which has caused huge damage to life and property. Many small and big dams and roads have been damaged. Despite deployment of NDRF, more than a dozen people have lost their lives in Jalore and Sirohi district. The Pathmeda cow shelter is under water.

“The affected areas in Rajasthan are adjoining Gujarat, which too is affected with flood and inspected by you and provided a central assistance of ₹500 crore. I urge that a financial package should be announced for the neighbour state, which too has suffered damage due to flood. People whose house and shops have damaged should be surveyed to provide relief. In addition to it, financial sanctions for damaged government properties and assistance for families of deceased should be sanctioned,” he said.

He also alleged that the state government has not started rescue work on a war footing. Proper rescue and relief works, supply of medicine, food, water and other basic needs is also not being done. The families of deceased are not given compensation. Rain disrupted train service for four hours on Delhi-Mumbai route in Chaumhela region of Jhalawar district on Friday.

Rivers and rivulets overflew and life was thrown out of gear after Jhalawar and Baran districts in the Hadauti region received heavy rain. Administration warned of heavy rain in the region in the next 24 hours.

“There was around 2 feet water above railway tracks, so train service was suspended on the Delhi-Mumbai route from 8.20am to 12.30pm as a precautionary measure,” said Amardeep Singh, senior divisional commercial manager, Kota. “Railway traffic resumed on the Delhi-Mumbai tracks when rainwater receded.”

Around five passenger trains were halted at stations, including Ramganjmandi, Chaumhela, and Shyamgarh, Singh said. “There was no breach on railway tracks.” A house collapsed at Bistunia village in Bhawanimandi region but no one was injured.

Jhalawar district received an average rainfall of 78 mm in the last 24 hours, according to information received from the flood control room in Kota.