Rain havoc: State govt declares 1,290 villages as scarcity hit

THE TOLL 59 people have died in floodaffected areas, said Kataria

The state government on Wednesday declared 1,290 villages in the four districts which have suffered crop damage due to heavy rains as scarcity hit.

On the basis of the report of district collectors, the government on Wednesday issued a notification and declared – 260 villages in Jalore, 621 in Pali, 348 in Sirohi and 61 in Barmer as scarcity hit.

With no rains since last twothree days, the situation in the flood affected districts of southwestern Rajasthan has started to normalize as the water level is receding.

“The situation is improving and road connectivity has been restored. Now relief work is on in full swing. There is water logging only in Chitalwana area of Jalore, as it is a low-lying area,” said Ratan Lal Lahoti, divisional commissioner, Jodhpur.

The army column deployed in Sanchore area rescued four persons from Shivpura village of district Jalore.

In Barmer, too the water level has started receding and relief work is on. Many villages are still inundated in water and road connectivity is disturbed in affected areas.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Sachin Pilot during his visit to flood affected areas assured people that their party is standing by them and would put pressure on the government to speed up relief works. He demanded that the government should give rightful compensation of loss happened to people, without any delay. As many as 59 people have died in flood-affected areas of Rajasthan and the state government has made all possible efforts in providing relief to those districts, disaster management and relief minister Gulab Chand Kataria said on Wednesday.

More than 1,290 villages were affected due to heavy rainfall in Barmer, Pali, Sirohi and Jalore districts, he said during a monthly review meeting of the department.

Thirty-six people were swept away in water and 20 were killed in lightning strikes while three died in building collapse.

Kataria said 1,514 people were provided help in 24 relief camps set up in flood-affected districts where 4,614 houses were completely damaged while 39 people in Jalore and three in Pali districts were airlifted to safety.