Nine drown as heavy rains lash Rajasthan

Nine people drowned as rivers and streams swelled with heavy showers continuing unabated across Rajasthan.

Three children were washed away in a stream in Theekaria village of Sikar district, while two woman and a man were swept away in a stream in Thadoli vilage in Tonk district on Monday, the police said.

In a similar incident two students drowned in Kolayat Tehsil of Bikaner district, whereas one died in Mahua village, they said.

The heavy downpour continued to lash Rajasthan for the second week paralysing normal life and bringing traffic to a grinding halt.

According to a meteorological department report, Gangapur, Beesalpur and Sawaimadhopur recorded a maximum rainfall of 7 cm each.

The southwest monsoon was vigorous in southeast of the state in the last 24 hours, Met officials said. Rainfall, they added, varied between 0.5 to 6.0 cms in Kota, Udaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Jodhpur and Bhilwara.

Heavy rain in the catchment areas have led to rise in water level in ten major dams, an irrigation release stated.

Meanwhile, the state government released a contingency fund of Rs 5 million for each district for rehabilitation of people and to meet with any eventuality arising due to flood, the relief department said.