Rajasthan floods: Hundreds of families displaced, relief still elusive
Thousands of flood victims wait for relief in Barmer district though rain has stopped and officials claim that they have rescued the stranded people and relocated them to safer zones.
Gudamalani and Dhorimanna blocks are the worst affected after rain damaged a Narmada canal on July 21 and gushing water submerged dozens of villages.
“Hundreds of families were displaced; for the past 10 days, we are taking shelter on high sand dunes,” said Bagda Ram of Pratap Nagar in Dhorimanna block
“Authorities provided us kits containing floor, rice, grain, sugar and tea only for once. Kits are useless since we have no facility to cook food. We are managing with food packets provided by social organisations,” Ram said.
“It seems the focus of the authorities was only to evacuate the stranded people. No system is in place to cater to the basic needs of those relocated to safe locations,” said Navin Narayan, project officer of Action Aid.
“It looks like the authorities do not understand the difference between rescue and relief,” said Narayan who visited Gudamalani and Dhorimanna on Thursday.
Gudamalani, about 90km from the district headquarters, is nearer to Gujarat flood-hit areas. Sukari and Jawai rivers merge here into Luni that flows through Dhanera, Patan, and Banaskantha districts of Gujarat. The road from Gudamalani towards Jalore is submerged.
The marooned people are living without shelter, food and safe drinking water. At many places, victims are staying under the sky on high sand dunes, organisations said.
After evacuating flood-hit people, Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) personnel are rescuing sheep and goats of Rabari community with the help of boats.
In Gudamalani, 300 households are affected in Lumbawas gram panchayat, 500 in Sindhasava, 200 in Padradi, 1200 in Bhakharpura, 1000 in Kharva and 40 in Hajriyon ki Dhani.
About 150 evacuated people, including over 40 women and 20 children, are taking shelter in Gudamalani’s Krishi Mandi Upaj for the last 5 days.
Victims live in sheds where food grains are kept. They were given green curtains for use as beds. No bedding or blankets have been given; they have no toilet facilities. Food is provided by a religious group.
Ariniyali, Pratap Nagar, Aaleti, Purava, Rampura, Meghwalon ki Basti, Manki, Chainpura and Andadiyon ki Dhani are the worst-affected areas in Dhorimanna block, about 70km from the district headquarters. Around 2300 households have been affected.
Floods have spelled health hazards with breeding of mosquitoes. Barmer district collector Shivprasad Nakate said, “After the rain stopped, chances of epidemic spread are high. We have started taking preventive measures.”
Several teams comprising medical staff, veterinarians, and revenue and agricultural officials have been formed, he said.
“We have opened control rooms at Dhorimanna and Gudamalani. Teams will move towards the affected areas with NDRF personnel to provide medical facilities to people and livestock. Revenue and agricultural officials will conduct surveys, so that affected people will get timely relief,” the collector said.
“We have also arranged drone cameras to ensure that no one remains stuck in the flood-affected areas.”

BJP deems Rajasthan budget disappointing, Cong says its presented a holistic one

Rajasthan to have own law to upgrade prisons, impart skills to inmates
- The state has prepared a new bill, the Rajasthan Prisons Bill, 2021, taking inspiration from the model jail manual.

Rajasthan to present first paperless budget tomorrow

Prohibitory orders imposed in Jodhpur city to contain coronavirus cases
- Several states including Maharashtra, Kerala, MP and Punjab continue to record high number of Covid cases.

Raje to attend BJP’s core committee meeting on Tuesday
- The core committee meeting will be chaired by state party chief Satish Poonia.

5 killed, 15 injured in road accident in Rajasthan's Churu district

Puducherry crisis: Gehlot says BJP destabilising govts to grab power unethically
- The Congress government in Puducherry collapsed on Monday after the motion of confidence moved by CM Narayanasamy was defeated.

Rajasthan: Four members of a family found dead in Sikar district

Robbery at petrol pump in Jaipur

Pakistan asked to expedite return of Barmer man who fled home fearing infamy
- The latest contact with Islamabad on the issue came after Barmer MP and Union agricultural minister Kailash Choudhary spoke to officials in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

Hand over 57-kg gold, meant to weigh ex-PM Shastri, to CGST dept: Udaipur court
- The gold, whose market value stands at ₹27.29 crore, is lying in the treasury of the Udaipur collector.

Prices of premium petrol cross ₹100 in 19 districts of Rajasthan
- The highest rates of premium petrol amongst the above-mentioned district were recorded from Sri Ganganagar, where the price of a litre of petrol is at ₹103.59.

NHRC recommends Rajasthan to initiate action against erring police officials

Farm laws against farmers, middle class, says Sachin Pilot

Poverty coming in the way of Pakistani brides' reunion with Indian husbands
- Mahendra Singh Girab has been hoping to be joined by his wife for the past four years. He said he was thankful to the government for considering their cases on humanitarian grounds but at the same time stated that they cannot afford to pay for their wives' travel by the air route.