Rain continues to wreak havoc in Rajasthan, toll rises to 25

JAIPUR/JAISALMER/UDAIPUR/JODHPUR: Heavy dust storm, rainfall and hailstorm wreaked havoc across the state for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. The toll in rain-related mishaps has risen to 25. The disaster and relief department held a meeting and have created a WhatsApp group of the district collectors of the districts badly affected by the rainfall and hailstorm to get updated on the disaster and relief work undertaken by various districts.
With the forecast of continuation of similar conditions in the state in the next 24 hours, high alert was sounded in the districts including Jalore, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Pali, Kota, Jhalawar, Baran, Dausa and Alwar.
Dust storm, hail storm and rainfall continued to play a spoilsport across the state when many incidents of wall collapse, uprooting of trees, electric and telephonic cables were uprooted,
Ashutosh AT Pednekar, the secretary, disaster and relief department held a meeting and contacted district collectors of various districts including Jhalawar, Kota, Jalore, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and others where bad weather proved fatal to the farmers and to the human lives.
"I have asked the district collector to assess the damages and ensure timely payment of the cheques to the kin of those who were killed in the disaster. As per the data relating to the rain related deaths five people were killed in Udaipur district, 4 each in Jaipur and Jhalawar, 2 each in Jalore, Bundi and Rajsamand, 1 each in Baran ,Bhilwara, Alwar, Hanumangarh, Pali and Pratapgarh districts of the state," said Pednekar while talking to TOI on Wednesday.
Rs 4 lakh each as ex-gratia to the family of deceased has been announced by the state government. "We have asked the district collectors to ensure timely payment of the cheques. They have also been directed to send the pictures of giving cheques of ex-gratia to the family of the deceased on our Whatsapp group," he added.
In western Rajasthan's Jalore district two persons died including a child when a electricity pole fell down. Jalore additional district collector Chagan Lal Goyal said, "Two people including a child were killed killed in natural disaster."
Heavy rainfall, dust storm and hail storm continued across the state. At Barmer, rain started at 8 pm in the evening and continued and there was hails in many villages in Dhorimanna, Sheo area.
Similarly, Jaipur also witnessed bad weather conditions which affected air traffic from the Jaipur airport. Disturbing weather affected at least six flights from the Jaipur airport.
Likewise the abrupt swing in weather conditions also disrupted the public meeting of the chief minister Ashok Gehlot scheduled atJojawar in Pali district. Even the alternative arrangements made by the administration by altering the place in the evening also failed to serve the purpose to the inclement weather in the night. "Water logging was witnessed at the helipad made for Gehlot's helicopter and thetent raised for the meeting," said an officer. Many wedding programs also went awry due to storm and rain in Pali and Jalore districts.