The flood situation in Rajasthan’s Kota, Jhalawar, Bundi, Baran and Dholpur districts continued to be grim on Monday, following heavy rains in the Hadoti region and in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, as well as discharge of water from overflowing dams. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas.
About 5,000 people stranded in low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places since Saturday by the Indian Army, civil defence and national and State disaster response teams. A Defence spokesperson said here that the flood relief columns of the Sapta Shakti Command were sent for rescue operations on being requisitioned by the administration.
While the Chambal river waters have created islands in several villages, a large number of people were stranded in their houses, on the rooftops and in the temporary sheds where they took shelter after the inundation of low-lying areas. Nineteen gates of the Kota Barrage, situated 1 km upstream of the town, were opened on Sunday night to release 7.09 lakh cusecs of water, which flooded the areas on the river banks.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited flood-hit areas in the Kota district and assured the people of taking steps to provide them relief. Sapta Shakti Command’s General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt. Gen. Alok Kler also conducted an aerial recce of the flood-affected areas and interacted with the columns engaged in relief operations.
‘Under control’
Mr. Gehlot said the water flowing into south-eastern parts of the State from Madhya Pradesh had started receding and the overall situation was under control. The Chief Minister, who also took stock of the level of water flow in the Chambal river at the Sagarpada bridge in Dholpur, stressed on coordination with the Madhya Pradesh authorities to control the situation.
Additional Chief Secretary P.K. Goyal, camping in Kota, was looking after the relief works. Kota Collector Muktanand Agrawal said relief centres had been set up at schools and community centres, and arrangements made to supply food and drinking water to the affected people.
About 350 students were marooned in their school for two days at Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh district, after the water released from Rana Pratap Sagar Dam flooded the area; they were evacuated on Monday and taken to their homes. As the children stayed in the school for two nights, government officials and local villagers arranged food, water and medicines for them.
