Normal life has been disrupted in Rajasthan due to continuous heavy rainfall. Flood-like situations have emerged in districts such as Tonk, Kota, Dholpur, Karauli, and Sawai Madhopur. River water levels are constantly rising, and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations in many areas.
11 People Rescued from Deal River
Panic gripped the Datwas area of Tonk district when the water level of the Deal River suddenly increased. Due to the b current, 11 people from two families—including men, women, and young children—were stranded on an island in the middle of the river. They somehow informed the police, after which the SDRF and Civil Defence teams reached the spot through the control room. After a rescue operation lasting about an hour, all were safely evacuated. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and everyone was safely returned home.
School Staff Rescued with JCB
Due to heavy rains, many areas, including Banasthali and Datwas villages in Tonk district, have been waterlogged. Civil Defence and SDRF teams are continuously engaged in relief work. In Banasthali village, while people trapped in houses were safely evacuated, school staff were brought out with the help of a JCB (excavator). The Datwas market has also been submerged in water. There is a possibility that the situation may worsen due to continuous rainfall.
Swelling Rivers
The water level of several rivers in the state has crossed the danger mark. More than 150 mm of rain has been recorded in Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, and Baran. Three gates of the Bisalpur Dam in Tonk have been opened, releasing 18,030 cusecs of water. This has further increased the risk of flooding in low-lying areas. Meanwhile, in Dholpur, the Chambal River is flowing 9.36 meters above the danger mark, making the situation critical.
In Kota district, the water level of the Parvati River has also reached 3.35 meters above the danger mark. To keep the situation under control, gates number 8 and 9 of the Kota Barrage have been opened up to 16 feet, releasing approximately 19,236 cusecs of water. On the other hand, in Karauli and Sawai Madhopur, the water level of the Chambal River has also crossed the danger level. SDRF and NDRF teams have been deployed in these areas.
Government Alert
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, considering the seriousness of the situation, has directed the Disaster Management and Relief Department to ensure the safety of the people. Following the instructions, 3 teams of SDRF, 1 team of NDRF, and 21 civil defense volunteers have been deployed in Kota. Relief work has also been intensified in Dholpur, Karauli, Tonk, and Sawai Madhopur.
The state government has requested two additional teams from the NDRF headquarters located in Vadodara to deal with any emergency situation. Along with this, the government has appealed to the general public to stay away from water sources during rains and to exercise caution to avoid any untoward incidents. In case of emergency, the state-level toll-free number 1070 and the district-level number 1077 can be contacted.
Alert for More Heavy Rain
The Meteorological Department has issued a warning of more heavy rain in many parts of the state in the coming days. The administration is vigilant, and monitoring has been increased in flood-affected areas. The timely action in the Tonk incident saved the lives of 11 people, which was a welcome relief. But considering the weather conditions, all districts have been put on alert. SDRF and NDRF teams are constantly stationed on the front lines and are ready to help people.
