Toll rises to 27 in Rajasthan rains

Jaipur : The toll in Rajasthan due to rains rose to 27 with four more deaths reported in Sikar district Thursday, officials said.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appealed to people to be patient as heavy rains continued to cause havoc and hit normal life in several districts, they added.

Chairing a meeting of senior administration officials here, the chief minister directed them to continue with relief work for thousands of displaced people on a war footing.

In a statement released Thursday evening, Gehlot said: “I request affected people to keep patience as the state government is leaving no stone unturned to bring them relief.”

Officials said the situation has deteriorated in Sikar, Churu, Sawai Madhopur, Jhunjhunu, Dholpur, Karoli and Bharatpur districts.

“CM (chief minister) has spoken with the collectors of all these districts which have witnessed no let-up in rains which started Thursday evening. Alert has been sounded in some other districts also, including Nagaur,” said a senior officer at the chief minister’s office.

The officer said that the village council level officers at most affected rural areas have been asked to make an assessment of the losses incurred by people due to the flood-like situation and send a report.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh telephoned Gehlot and took stock of the situation Wednesday as over 100 colonies in low-lying areas in Jaipur were inundated since Tuesday night.

“Hundreds of people have been given shelter in relief camps. Governor Margaret Alva visited a relief camp in Muhana area today (Thursday),” said the officer.