At least 20 people have lost their lives in various parts of Rajasthan due to torrential rains that have battered the state since Saturday. The heavy downpour has led to waterlogging in major cities including Jaipur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, and Dausa, prompting local authorities to close schools in these districts along with Gangapur and Bharatpur on Monday.
The Meteorological Department issued a warning on Sunday for continued heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts in Rajasthan over the next 24 hours. The relentless rains have caused significant disruptions and hazards, including fatalities and infrastructure damage.
In Jaipur, five youths drowned in the overflowing Kanota Dam. Despite ongoing search efforts, their bodies have not been recovered as of late Sunday night. Additionally, seven boys drowned in the Banganga river near Srinagar village in Bharatpur district.
The rains have also caused tragic accidents. Two young men, identified as Sitaram (21) and Deshraj, were swept away along with their motorcycle by the Mashi river in Phagi, Jaipur rural. In another incident, Banwari (25) fell into a drain in Madhorajpura, and Saddam (32) drowned after falling into an anicut in Dudu.
Further fatalities include Ashok Kumar (23), who slipped into a pond in Beawar, and Bablu (16), who drowned while bathing in a pond in Pakhariyawas. Gulgaon from Kekri also perished after being swept away by floodwaters. In Karauli, a man and his son died when the beams of their house collapsed due to the heavy rains, and a 12-year-old girl was swept away in Barapura village. In Banswara, Vikas Sharma, a nursing student from Dausa, drowned in the Kadelia waterfall.
In response to the crisis, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma convened an emergency meeting in Jaipur to review and enhance disaster management efforts. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Sharma urged residents to avoid water bodies and waterlogged areas, maintain distance from electric poles and wires during rain, and heed warnings and safety measures issued by the Disaster Management Department.
The Chief Minister expressed his prayers for the safety and well-being of all residents affected by the severe weather conditions.
