Two killed, hundreds rescued as rain triggers flash floods in Rajasthan; Army swings into action

PTC News Desk: At least two people killed while hundreds other were rescued as torrential rains triggered flash floods in Rajasthan disrupting normal life, damaging roads, and cutting off several areas.

Eight districts are grappling with flood-like conditions, with Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, and Bundi among the hardest hit. According to the weather department, Bundi’s Nainwa recorded the highest rainfall at 502 mm in the past 24 hours on Saturday. The worsening situation has led to the deployment of the Army along with NDRF and SDRF teams for rescue and relief operations. The Air Force is on standby, with an Mi-17 helicopter already deployed for assistance. Sawai Madhopur and Bundi remain the most severely affected areas.

Tragically, a 50-year-old woman was swept away by strong flood currents in Bundi, while a 65-year-old woman died after a tin shed wall collapsed on her farm.

In Sawai Madhopur, more than 30 villages are submerged and cut off from the main city. Over one lakh people have been impacted as continuous rainfall and the overflow of the Surwal dam have worsened flooding. Road and rail links have been severely disrupted, with the highway connecting Rajasthan to Madhya Pradesh underwater, and key routes in Kota, including those leading to Jaipur, submerged.

The Army has joined forces with NDRF and SDRF for large-scale rescue operations. In Sawai Madhopur, teams are evacuating stranded villagers, while in Bundi, the administration has sought additional Army support for heavily affected areas like Nainwa, Kapren, and Keshoraipatan.

During rescue efforts, a tractor carrying villagers and personnel overturned in a pit, causing minor injuries to an SDRF member.