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Rajasthan Rain: Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc in Rajasthan; sees wettest July in 69 years, schools closed
Heavy rains continue in Rajasthan. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple alerts for heavy to very heavy rain in several regions of the state. These include Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Jaipur, Dausa, and Sikar, Jodhpur, Pali, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Bundi, and Kota.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan has experienced its wettest July in nearly seven decades, with cumulative rainfall of 285 mm recorded across the state, according to the Meteorological Centre in Jaipur.
This marks a 77 per cent surplus compared to the state's long-period average (LPA) of 161.4 mm for the month.
The last time Rajasthan saw such heavy July rainfall was in 1956, when the state recorded 308 mm, the highest ever for that month. This year's rainfall comes close to breaking that 69-year-old record.
As per the IMD, Jaipur is currently experiencing 25.2°C temperature with 95 per cent humidity and southwesterly winds blowing at 5.6 km/h.
In Dholpur, a driver and cleaner, along with a mini-truck, were swept away on Friday (August 1) morning. The vehicle sank into the Parvati River on the Ranoli culvert of Maniyan police station area. The driver and cleaner also drowned with it.
Earlier, the Ana Sagar lake in Rajasthan's Ajmer overflowed on July 19 morning, following incessant rain, which caused waterlogging. Due to this, the road connecting Bajrang Garh to the market was closed. The locals used sandbags in an attempt to stop the flow of water.
Municipal Corporation Chief Engineer Vinod Manohar stated that the cause of waterlogging is due to lake water entering through escape channels, which have been opened by nearly 30 inches.
Following continuous heavy rainfall that led to waterlogging in several parts of Ajmer city, rainwater entered the government-run Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital on July 19.
Earlier, Ajmer Municipal Corporation Health Officer Prithviraj Singh urged the public to remain at home and avoid areas with waterlogging.
Prithviraj Singh said, "Today's red alert has been announced by the weather department. All the common people are asked to remain in their homes. Where there is excessive water, the general public is aware of all the affected areas; therefore, they should avoid going out there and pay special attention to those places."
The Meteorological Center Jaipur has issued a 'Yellow Alert' for moderate to heavy rain in 6 districts on Friday.
Schools were closed in 16 districts on Friday amid the warning of heavy rain.
Holiday has been announced in schools in Jhalawar, Tonk, Kota, Bharatpur, Deeg, Ajmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Nagaur, Sikar, Churu and others. The Meteorological Center has also predicted more than normal rainfall in August (Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Bharatpur, Bikaner).
According to weather experts, the monsoon trough line is currently passing through Sri Ganganagar, Rohtak. A cyclonic circulation is formed at the upper level of South-West Rajasthan. Due to the effect of this system, rain is expected in Bikaner division on August 2, while the weather may remain dry in the rest of the state.
With inputs from agencies
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