— Photo: PTI

BESIEGED: The terrace of a two-storeyed building that is submerged in flood waters in Rajasthan.

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government on Tuesday pressed into service high-power pumps to drain water from submerged areas in the flood-ravaged Barmer district.

The death toll in floods increased to 139 with the recovery of one more body near the worst-hit Malwa village.

State Relief Secretary R.K. Meena told reporters here that the efforts to rescue stranded villagers had been stepped up, following a break in rain and receding water levels. Disposal of floating carcasses was also being taken up.

Mr. Meena said seven pumps from Bharatpur, six from the Bisalpur dam, three from the Indira Gandhi Canal Project and two from the Public Health Engineering Department had been dispatched to Barmer, while five pumps of 75 horsepower capacity had been requisitioned from Ahmedabad.

Chief Secretary Anil Vaish reviewed rescue and relief operations through videoconferencing here.

A team comprising probationary administrative officers had been sent to Barmer to monitor distribution of food packets and extension of medical and health services.

It would also look after arrangements at relief camps and restoration of power and drinking water supply.

Flood relief

Mr. Meena said the State Government was yet to calculate the flood relief package, to be sought from the Centre.

He said the situation was back to normal in other flood-affected districts, while the relief camps set up on sand dunes were functioning in Barmer.

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