Rajasthan has recorded an exceptionally heavy monsoon this year, receiving 528.60 mm of rainfall so far – 53.33% above the seasonal average of 344.74 mm, according to the Meteorological Centre, Jaipur.
In response to the situation, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has directed large-scale relief and rescue operations in flood-affected areas. He is personally monitoring the developments and has asked administrative officers, NDRF, SDRF, and police personnel to remain on high alert and provide all possible assistance to affected residents.
So far, 792 people have been rescued across the state. A total of 57 SDRF teams and seven NDRF teams are deployed and working round the clock, while Indian Air Force helicopters have been airlifting stranded residents from severely affected areas. Civil Defence teams are also assisting rescue efforts.
Relief camps have been set up to shelter displaced families, and surveys are underway to assess damage to houses and public property. As per SDRF norms, financial assistance of ₹4 lakh is being provided to the dependents of those who lost their lives due to drowning, lightning, or other rain-related incidents.
Rainfall activity is expected to intensify further due to a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to move northwest in the next 24 hours. The MeT department has forecast light to moderate rain across several districts on Thursday, with moderate to heavy showers in southern Rajasthan. From August 29 to 30, heavy rainfall is likely in Kota and Udaipur divisions, while Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions may also see significant downpours. Rain is expected to persist across most regions of the state through the first week of September, except in some border areas.
Meanwhile, in view of heavy rainfall on August 27 that caused severe waterlogging, Jodhpur district administration declared a holiday for students in all schools, colleges, coaching institutes, and Anganwadi centres on Thursday. Teachers and staff, however, have been directed to attend as usual. Parents have been advised not to send children outdoors unnecessarily and to take precautions amid ongoing rain and waterlogging.
District Collector Gaurav Agarwal issued the order late Wednesday under Sections 30 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and circulated it to all relevant officials for strict compliance.
(With inputs from IANS)