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Army aids rescue work in Rajasthan

Flood situation worsens in Uttar Pradesh
Last Updated 29 July 2013, 20:25 IST

The Army was called in to rescue five people stranded in an island in Rajasthan’s Hadouti region (comprising Kota division) following an unexpected increase in the flow of water in Parvati river.

Officials said the five people from Sawai Madhopur were trapped unexpectedly as heavy rain in the upstream areas, including in Madhya Pradesh, led to a sudden rise in water levels.

Police said the five from Karjoda village went to the island to graze their sheep, but could not return as the Parvati river swelled.

After all its efforts to rescue the youth failed, district administration turned to the Army for support. The villagers were stranded for nearly 20 hours by then.

Defence spokesman Col SD Goswami said one Army column under the aegis of south-western command was pressed into service following the request by the district collector of Kota to rescue the villagers.

Army engineers from Gandhiv Division fully equipped with BAUTs (Boat assault universal type) and OBM (Out board motor) for rescue mission rushed to Karjoda Village, under Itawa police station, 80 Km north east of Kota, and rescued them.

According to the water resources department Rajasthan has so far received 312 mm of rain as against 146 mm during the same period last year, when the monsoon actually picked up in August.

According to Met office, heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur at a few places in South Rajasthan during the next 24 hours.  The forecast said rain or thunder showers would occur at most places in south east Rajasthan , many places  south west and north- east  and at isolated places in north- west Rajasthan. 

Meanwhile, rising Uttar Pradesh rivers have inundated more areas and displaced thousands of people in over a dozen districts in the state besides destroying standing crops.

The Ganga has been rising along its courses at Farrukhabad, Unnao, Allaha-
bad, Varanasi and Kanpur districts. Officials said on Monday that heavy rain coupled with discharge of water from the Narora reservoir has caused the swelling of the Ganga.

The Rapti river was also rising at Siddharthnagar and Kushinagar, threatening to engulf several villages in the area. 

The Ghaghra river was flowing above the danger mark at Barabanki, while Mandakini was swelling at the religious town of Chitrakoot, reports said.

Death toll in the floods stood at 175, as more people continued to die in lightning strikes and house collapses. Six hundred cattle also perished.

Companies of the Provincial Arms Constabulary (PAC) have been pressed into service at many places to rescue marooned people, as the Met department forecast more rains in the next 24 hours.

In the west, Mumbai witnessed mild drizzle, while heavy rain was reported from most parts of Konkan-Goa, Saurashtra and Kutch regions in Gujarat.

Regional weather bureau has asked fishermen to stay out of the sea, predicting rain in coastal Raigad and Ghat regions in the next 24 hours.

With the south-west monsoon extremely active over Gujarat, rainfall was as high as 7 cm in many parts of the state, while rainfall touched 1-4 cm in Konkan-Goa.

The bureau has also warned motorists driving through Gujarat-Maharashtra-Goa stretch to be cautious as winds near the shores can peak up to 60 kmph.

Reports from the hinterland showed Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada witnessed day-long downpour, while moderate rainfall has been predicted for many parts of the region in the next 24 hours.

The Met stated that Colaba in Mumbai recorded 14.6 mm until Monday morning and Santacruz registered 4 mm rainfall.

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(Published 29 July 2013, 20:25 IST)

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