The Hindu : Front Page : Thousands displaced in Barmer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 29, 2006

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Thousands displaced in Barmer

Mohammed Iqbal

Death toll in Rajasthan floods 138; rescue and relief work in full swing

— Photo: AP

BEYOND GRIEF: A child consoles her mother Rahemat Banu after the family lost 24 members in floodwaters, in Barmer district of Rajasthan on Monday.

JAIPUR: Rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit Barmer district and elsewhere in Rajasthan have been launched on a war footing, as the death toll across the State went up to 138 on Monday. Water has started receding from most of the areas, though the worst affected villages — Malwa and Kawas — in Barmer district are still submerged.

State Relief Secretary R.K. Meena told reporters here that most of the road links, including the National Highway No. 15 between Barmer and Jaisalmer, were restored and relief material was being supplied through roads.

Thousands of people in the desert district of Barmer — bordering Pakistan and known for its sand dunes — have been displaced and dozens are still missing. Mr. Meena said a large number of bodies and animal carcasses were recovered from remote inundated habitations.

In addition to the Navy divers, eight flood relief columns and 12 Engineer Task Forces of the Army were deployed in the seven flood-affected districts in the State. The marine commandos of the Navy recovered 35 bodies in Malwa and 10 in the Baytu area. Cattle carcasses floating in the floodwaters have raised concerns of outbreak of diseases.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, presiding over a high-level meeting here on Monday, made allocations to various departments from the Rs. 100 crores sanctioned additionally for flood relief management. Mr. Meena said the meeting decided to give priority to the restoration of essential services.

The State Government will soon submit a memorandum to the Centre seeking the immediate release of a special flood relief package. Mr. Meena said the memorandum would make a "realistic assessment'' of the damage caused to infrastructure, public assets and private houses while requesting Central assistance.

The State Budget allocation for the Disaster Management Department was Rs. 436 crores this year. As the entire money was spent on providing drought relief till June and on flood relief management recently, an additional Rs. 100 crores was sanctioned. Mr. Meena said the funds would be utilised mainly for restoring emergency services and preventing an epidemic.

The Thar Express train service between India and Pakistan, running from Munabao in Barmer to Khokhrapar in Sindh, has been suspended for a month following extensive damage caused to the rail track.

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