55 marooned people rescued aerially in Jodhpur, Barmer dist

Jaipur, July 6 (UNI) Air Force helicopters and district administration transported 55 marooned people to safety in Jodhpur and Barmer district today even as the flood situation in these two districts worsened today.

Official sources said 18 people in Kawaspura in Jodhpur district and 22 people in Rampura village in Barmer district were rescued by helicopters.

One teacher and 15 students in Virani village in Luni tehsil in Jodhpur district were rescued aerially as they were surrounded by flash floods on all sides.

Sources said fearing water overflow from Jaswant Sagar dam, colonies in the low lying areas have been evacuated. An additional chief engineer has been deputed in the region along with 100 RAC jawans.

Meanwhile, under construction mega highway bridge near Gadesar village in Barmer district was damaged as water gushed onto Luni river in Sindari.Even construction materials and machines kept for construction of the bridge, were swept away.

Some places in Samdari town in Barmer district are now under four feet deep water.

In a special meeting today in Jaipur, chief secretary D C Samant took stock of the flood situation and asked officials to take all precautionary measures.

Elaborating on flood situation, Principal secretary Mr C K Mathew said the situation has improved in Pali and all blocked roads have been reopened. Rains have subsided in Sirohi but flood waters have caused road blockades at six places. Sirohi-Udaipur road is also blocked.

Meanwhile, Masuda region in Ajmer received heavy rains and most lakes are overflowing. Chittorgarh and Bhilwara also received heavy rains.

The met office has predicted rains in Udaipur, Ajmer, Kota and Jaipur and more rains on Sunday in Jodhpur, Pali and western regions.

In the last 24 hours, Pali district received 173 mm, Rampura 106 mm. Mangliawas in Ajmer district reciebed 101, Pisangan 80, Pushkar 49 mm. In Jodhpur district's Bhopalgrah 70 mm, in Jaisalmer's Pokhran 70 mm.

Except Bikaner, all other divisions in Rajasthan are receiving rains.

UNI