JOIN USAt least 14 people died in Jaipur and Shekhawati regions of Rajasthan as torrential rains lashed several parts of the state throughout Tuesday night.
Sources in the Met department said till Wednesday morning, rainfall was measured at 160 mm, the highest in the last 30 years. More rain is expected in the coming days, they said.
Normal life was thrown out of gear by the downpour that lasted for around five hours, resulting in collapse of walls, electrocution and vehicles being swept away by storm water.
Eight people died in Jaipur city and two deaths were reported from rural areas. Besides, two deaths each were reported from Dholpur district and Mahuwa in Sawai Madhopur district. The administration has announced an interim relief of Rs 20,000 each, to the kin of the victims.
According to reports, some houses in low-lying areas also collapsed as rain water gushed in.
A young couple was killed as their vehicle was swept away at the Ghat ki Guni area on Tuesday night while they were returning home after visiting their son at the hospital.
They were identified as Mohan Nattani (32), a businessman, and Pooja Nattani (30). In another incident at the Bhatta Basti area, two teenagers died after a wall collapsed on them. Besides, two people were electrocuted in Sodala, while two more died at Chomu and Sudarshanpura and one person died at Vidhani in Jaipur, police said.
Mayor Jyoti Khandelwal told reporters that market and slum areas in Jawahar Nagar, Shashtri Nagar and Sodala were the worst-affected. District officials said around 100 slums and colonies in Jaipur were submerged in the rain, which subsided during the day.
Khandelwal said the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) officials have been assigned to identify unsafe buildings and shift the boarders to safe locations. “Some of the most unsafe buildings are being demolished,” the Mayor said.