Monsoon strikes Rajasthan ; 4 die in rain related mishaps

Jaipur, June 13 (UNI) Four persons, including two children, were killed in rain related mishaps even as the South West Monsoon reached Rajasthan today causing widespread rains in Southern parts of the desert state.

According to reports received at the state headquarters here, a young couple and their two children were swept away in strong current while they were trying to cross a seasonal rivulet near Mandalgarh town in Bhilwara district yesterday.

Navratan and his son Harshit were washed away in the strong current while his wife Babita and five month old daughter were rescued by onlookers.

Similarly, Harju Bai Dhakad died under the debris of her house which collapsed in Begun area in Chittoragarh district and a five year old boy Raju died as portion of a house collapsed in Devalian Kalan village of Ajmer district.

With this, at least nine people have so far died in rain related incidents in the state. Earlier, five persons drowned in the seasonal rivulet near Mansa Mata Shrine in Udaipurwati region of Jhunjhunu district on June 11.

Meanwhile, moving ahead of its expected dates the south west Monsoon today advanced to Southern Rajasthan, the Met Office said here.

The northern limit of the monsoon was passing over Disa (Gujarat) Udaipur, Pune, Jhansi, Fatehpur, Bairaich, Pantnagar, Patiala and Jammu. The monsoon this year has reached Rajasthan five days ahead of its normal date of June 18, the Met Office said.

Heavy downpour in different parts of the state disrupted life at places like Jodhpur, Bhilwara, Bilara, Kekri (Ajmer) Pachpahad (Jhalawar) and Balotra (Barmer).

Met Office has recorded maximum rainfall of 8 CMs in Abu Road followed by Jagpura in Banswara (7 CM), Akalera and Pachpahad in Jhalawar, Balotra in Barmer (6 CMs), Ghatol and Garhi in Banswara, Jodhpur (5 CMs) Sanchore and Sawai Madhopur (4 CMs) and Jaipur, Bikaner and Sam in Jaislamer (3 CMs) during the past 24 hours.

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