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After Barmer, it's the turn of Kota now

Special Correspondent

Flood fears in the wake of incessant rains

JAIPUR: As if it is now the turn of southern Rajasthan after the calamitous downpour in the western parts of the State a fortnight back, the Kota region has started showing signs of floods in the wake of incessant rain. The sluice gates of all four dams on the Chambal— including the Gandhi Sagar in Madhya Pradesh— have been opened to allow the flow of water. The inhabitants of the villages in the downstream of Kota barrage have been evacuated to safer places.

All the rivers in the Kota region, including the perennial Chambal, were overflowing on Friday after intermittent rain during the past 24 hours. After receiving reports of the Kali Sindhi and the Jhapi rivers in Jhalawar district inundating a few villages in Khanpur tehsil, the State Government has sent a helicopter for rescue operations. The authorities have requisitioned the Army for two helicopters.

State Relief Secretary R. K. Meena, who briefed newspersons on the flood situation and the ongoing relief operations in Barmer and Jaisalmer, said 35 persons were rescued from the Alania river in Jhalawar on Friday morning. About a dozen persons were rescued from the Kali Sindh and Jhapi rivers as well. The villages in Khanpur tehsil facing the flood threat included Khatoli, Dhamania, Pokhari, Phulera and Jhapi Kheda. The situation was under control but the authorities were keeping a watch, Mr. Meena said.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje reached Jaisalmer on Friday on a two-day tour of Jaisalmer-Barmer districts. On her way to Jaisalmer from Jaipur, Ms. Raje attended the Gogamedi mela in Nohar tehsil of Sriganganagar and offered prayers at the famous Gogaji dham for respite from nature's fury.

Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is scheduled to reach Jodhpur on Saturday on a two-day tour of the flood-affected areas. After reaching Bayatu by helicopter Mr. Shekhawat will visit Kavas and Malva by road. He is also scheduled visit Falna in Pali district, which falls in his former Assembly constituency Bali, to meet the flood victims.

The State Government announced another Rs.100 crore for the flood-affected regions, taking the total relief amount released by it so far to Rs.636 crore. A Control Room also was opened in the Capital at the Collector's office, which will also have storerooms for stocking relief material from the public. According to Mr. Meena, some of the items immediately required are tarpaulin, water tanks, umbrellas, skirts, kurtas, odhni (women's dress), ghaghras, utensils and cattle feed.

Mr. Meena said there was no addition to the death toll in Barmer.

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