Floods kill 33 in Rajasthan; Gujarat back to normal

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) At least twelve more people were killed in the the last 24 hours in Rajasthan due to heavy rains and floods taking the toll to 33 over the last three days in the state even as the flood situation in Gujarat was limping back to normal.

Heavy torrential rains meanwhile, continued to disrupt normal life in border areas of Jaisalmer and Barmer.

Several villages and towns were cut off by rising waters.

Electricity and communication networks were also disrupted and schools asked to remain close in Udaipur.

Heavy rains in Jaisalmer led to breach of embankments of Josira and Ranisar lakes which inundated about 200 houses in low lying surrounding areas.

The normally dry Jaisalmer is totally submerged under water making it difficult for vehicles to ply through the city.

The Gadisar lake was also on the verge of breakage and most other lakes in the area were flowing above the danger level with fears of breach.

With the flooding of the National Highway no 15, the Barmer-Jaisalmer route has been blocked.

Nine people have died in different incidents in the state over the past 48 hours.

One woman died in Singidia village due to lightening, a seven-year-old child died after falling into an overflowing canal while another person died after his gypsy fell into a overflowing river in Sindhari.

Reports from Jodhpur say Pali was under water and 10 bodies have been recovered so far. One jawan along with some other people was missing. Two bodies have been recovered from Sirohi and Jalor district each.

Five bodies were recovered from near Falna in Khari river. Two bodies of school children were recovered from near Virampura village in Nana river.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje toured the districts today to review the overall flood situation.

Two people were swept away in Chambal river due to discharge of water from Kota barrage.

Delhi had another warm and humid day even as rains continued to elude the capital despite a swathe of clouds hovering over the skyline.

Though it was a predominantly cloudy day interspersed with sunny intervals, the high humidity level continued to leave Delhiites perspiring.

Though normalcy was gradually returning to flood hit Gujarat as rain fury had subsided in the state, the toll had risen to 252 as nine more deaths were reported in rain related incidents from North-Gujarat in last 24 hours.

Reports from four north-Gujarat districts said nine lives had been lost in the last 24 hours. Five deaths were reported from Mehsana district, 2 in Sabarkantha and 1 each in Banakantha and Patan districts.

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