8 killed, 3 feared drowned in heavy rains across Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Torrential rainfall from Sunday evening severely affected normal life across the state, particularly in Ajmer and Jodhpur divisions, on Monday. Eight people lost their lives in rain-related mishaps, including three each in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer districts, and one each in Sojat and Chittorgarh. Three people who had gone to bathe in rivers are missing and feared drowned.

According to the Met office, there is a risk of flash floods in Jaisalmer district in the next 24 hours. Extremely heavy rains are expected in Barmer, Ajmer, Bhilwara and Tonk districts also on Tuesday. At least 10 trains have been cancelled in Jodhpur division on Tuesday. A dozen trains will be diverted, the North Western Railway (NWR) said.

Downpour hits normal life in urban, rural areas
Nagrafort in Tonk received a rainfall of 321mm, the highest in the state on Monday. This was followed by Sojat (Pali) which recorded 261mm, Dooni (Tonk) 219mm, Hindoli (Bundi) 217mm, and Jahazpur (Bhilwara) 213mm. Rainfall varying from 100 to 150mm was recorded in other parts of the state.

In Jodhpur, three persons, identified as Nandu, Sunita, and Manju, were killed after the wall of a timber factory collapsed during the early morning hours on makeshift huts built along the wall at Boranada industrial area. Seven others were injured and under treatment at Jodhpur AIIMS, said a police officer.

Incessant rainfall also claimed the lives of three members of a family at Mohangarh town in Jaisalmer after a mud house collapsed. "The deceased were identified as Baga Ram Meghwal (65), his wife Agra Devi (60), and their 15-year-old grandson Harish Meghwal. They were trapped beneath the debris and died," said an officer.

A man identified as Kanhaiya Lal (26) was killed after falling into a 150-feet gorge while taking a bath in the famous Menal waterfall located near Ladpura on the Bhilwara-Kota national highway in Chittorgarh district. His friend managed to survive by clinging on to a rock. In Sojat, a woman identified as Geeta Devi lost her life when part of her house collapsed in Dheenawas village during heavy rainfall.

A 19-year-old boy was swept away in a swollen rivulet in the Kaithun police station area of Kota district. The state disaster response force has started a search operation. However, the boy, identified as Harshal Meghwal, is still missing.

In Bharatpur, two teenagers were feared dead after they drowned in the Gambhir river in the district. "Five had gone to take a bath in the river when they started drowning and screamed for help. Three among the five were rescued while two are still missing," said an officer.

The impact of the rain was not limited to urban areas, and rural areas also suffered significant damage. Many areas witnessed waterlogging, causing damage to people's houses. Flood-like conditions were reported from Pali and Sojat, with the former experiencing continuous rainfall since Sunday night.

Bundi too experienced incessant rains, inundating several low-lying colonies, from Sunday night. Bundi collector Akshya Godara declared a holiday for students in govt and private schools in the district on Monday.

Heavy downpour affected Ajmer, Kekri and Beawar districts, with villages getting nearly flooded and disconnected from each other due to damaged roads. There were reports of derailment of a goods train wagon near Beawar. In Ajmer, schools have been ordered to remain closed for two days till Tuesday. Pushkar Sarovar was overflowing with 25 feet of water and waterfalls formed in Nag hills. Resorts in Pushkar were evacuated and guests shifted to other places.