Rajasthan rain death toll hits 22, CM Sharma visits Jaipur

Rajasthan’s rain death toll rose to 22 on Monday, with eight more fatalities reported as heavy rainfall continued across eastern parts of the state. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited affected areas in Jaipur, including Jawahar Circle and Malviya Nagar, and said the safety of affected people was his “topmost priority”. The meteorological department warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Jaipur, Bharatpur, Kota and Ajmer divisions for the next four to five days.

A flood-like situation has hit Karauli and Hindaun, where overflowing dams and rivers disrupted normal life. NDRF and SDRF teams evacuated about 100 people. In Jaipur, roads were inundated and traffic jams were widespread. Five bodies were recovered from Kanota dam after a drowning incident on Sunday, and two others drowned at Galta Kund. A 30-year-old man died in Dausa after being swept away at Moroli dam. Twenty-five devotees stranded at Trinetra Ganeshji temple in Ranthambore were rescued by SDRF.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot posted on social media that over 25 people had died and demanded clarity on whether Disaster Relief Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, who announced his resignation after the BJP’s poor Lok Sabha performance, was still in office. Mr Meena said he would tour worst-hit areas on Tuesday to assess the situation. Schools in five districts remained shut on Monday.