Raj: Alert in 3 dists as Jaswant Sagar dam leaks

Jodhpur, July 7: A red alert has been sounded in 60 villages of Jodhpur, Pali and Barmer districts in view of overflowing and leakage in Jaswant Sagar dam in Jodhpur district.

Villagers have been evacuated from these flood-hit villages to safer places.

Jodhpur Divisional Commissioner Ms Kiran Soni, refuted rumours of cracks in Jaswant Sagar dam and said that it is safe. Meanwhile, army, RAC and irrigation department officials are monitoring the situation and devising ways to stop the dam from cracking up.

At least 1000 cusec water is currently leaking and seeping out from the 1500 mcft strong and 100 years old Jaswant sagar dam. In addition, at least 1.25 ft water is overflowing from the dam's damaged sidewall. There are suggestions of breaking the other side to let the water flow out.

The water from Jaswant Sagar dam flows into Luni river, which is currently overflowing, and is on the verge of submerging the villages on its banks.

Red alert has been sounded in 49 villages in Jodhpur district, 10 villages in Pali and the small villages along Luni river in Barmer district.

More than three dozen villages located near the dam have already been evacuated.

UNI