Torrential rains have triggered flood-like conditions across Rajasthan, severely impacting districts like Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar, Kota, Pali, and Sirohi, with rivers overflowing and dams reaching critical levels. The Jaipur Meteorological Centre reported 369.79 mm of rainfall from June 1 to July 28, an 87.91% surge above the seasonal average of 196.79 mm, pushing 226 of the state’s 693 dams to full or overflowing capacity. Schools in 11 districts—Jhalawar, Kota, Chittorgarh, Tonk, Bhilwara, Baran, Dungarpur, Dholpur, Salumber, Banswara, and Ajmer—have been closed, with Jhalawar extending holidays until August 2 due to safety concerns.

The crisis has led to dramatic incidents. In Sirohi, a school bus carrying 35 children was stranded on a Keral River culvert, though all were rescued safely. In Chittorgarh, two motorcyclists were swept away while crossing the flooded Bedach River bridge. Bhilwara’s Bijolia area saw roads turn into rivers, with the Eru River flowing five feet above its bridge, forcing locals to use boats for mobility. Jhalawar reported flooding in half a dozen villages, while Jaipur faced waterlogged roads and traffic chaos after evening downpours. Tragically, a July 26 school collapse in Jhalawar’s Piplodi village killed seven children, prompting the suspension of five teachers, including headmaster Meena Garg, for ignoring prior complaints about the structure’s condition.

The Meteorological Centre, led by director Radheshyam Sharma, attributed the deluge to a monsoon trough line passing through Bikaner and Kota, with heavy rains expected to continue until August 1. Ramganj Mandi in Kota recorded the state’s highest seasonal rainfall at 1,261 mm, with 242 mm in the last 24 hours, followed by 235 mm in Jaitura, Bhilwara, and 88 mm in Bali, Pali. Red alerts are active for Baran, Bharatpur, and Jhalawar, with orange alerts for five districts and yellow alerts for 19 others.

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To manage overflowing rivers, authorities opened 12 gates of the Kota Barrage, releasing 2.9 lakh cusecs of water, and six gates of Chittorgarh’s Rana Pratap Sagar Dam. The Novnera Dam under the ERCP project released 8,400 MCM from 13 gates, aiding irrigation across 16 districts. Bisalpur Dam in Tonk opened six gates, a rare July event, while dams like Gudha, Galwa, and Sardar Samand hit 100% capacity.

Rescue efforts are in full swing. In Kota’s Ramganjmandi, State Education Minister Madan Dilawar inspected submerged areas like Kumbhkot Basti via tractor, overseeing the relocation of 150 families from Kudaila and 100 from Deolikurd. Two Civil Defense teams, one SDRF team, and an SDSF unit are deployed in the region. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma called the rainfall a “positive sign” for agriculture, highlighting state initiatives like “Karmabhoomi se Matribhumi” to build 45,000 water conservation structures over four years with non-resident Rajasthani support.

The heavy rains, while boosting groundwater recharge, have exposed infrastructure vulnerabilities. In Jhalawar, a laborer, Samsul, died from a lightning strike, and a minor was swept away in Bundi’s Indrani Dam. With 75.33% of dam storage capacity filled, including 84.14% for major dams, Rajasthan faces both opportunity and peril as it navigates this unprecedented monsoon surge.

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