Rajasthan downpour: death toll increases to 37

With four more people, including two children, falling prey to rain-related incidents, the death toll in the deluge today increased to 37 in Rajasthan.

"37 people have died in different rain-related incidents in the state so far. Four recent deaths occurred in Jaipur district," a disaster management official said in Jaipur.

Additional district collector of jaipur, Arun Garg, said Panchuram (65), Rajendra (40), Bhagwan (14) and Jaspal (8) died in separate incidents in the past 24 hours.

Including the four, 14 people have been killed in Jaipur district alone till now, he added.

Meanwhile, chief minister Ashok Gehlot reviewed the situation at a meeting of the state disaster management team this evening.

He directed officials to prepare action plans for repairing damaged roads, disease-control and relief in the wake of the heavy rains which have assailed several parts of the state since last week.

"The situation is now under control and the level of accumulated rain water is reducing in areas of Jaipur and Sikar," MoS for Disaster management, Brijendra Ola, said after the meeting.

Besides Ola, energy minister Jitendra Singh, health minister AA Khan and senior officials from Urban Development and Housing, Disaster Management, Medical and Health and MeT departments were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the BJP submitted a memorandum to governor Margaret Alva while accusing the government of failing to provide adequate assistance to the affected people.

The party also demanded increasing the assistance money given to the kin of those killed in such incidents.

On the other hand, the Pink City got respite from incessant rains and witnessed bright sunshine by noon after a period of five rain drenched days.

The city has recorded 87 mm rainfall since yesterday, the MeT department said while predicting heavy rainfall at a few places in Eastern parts of the state during the next 36 hours.