Heavy rainfall in Bhilwara, Tonk disrupts normal life

Bhilwara/Jaipur: With the onset of monsoon, Bhilwara district experienced the heaviest rainfall in the state on Saturday, recording 175 mm of precipitation that led to flood-like conditions in many parts of the city. The downpour, which began early morning and continued until noon, caused significant disruption to daily life and created chaos on the streets.

The impact was particularly severe in low-lying areas, where residents faced substantial waterlogging and flooding. Several key locations including the Collectorate Square, Railway Station and Roadways Bus Stand were submerged, with water levels reaching 2-3 feet in some areas. The situation was so severe that Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar, who was on visit to Bhilwara, had to take an alternative route around the city to reach the electricity department's office.

"The water level rose up to our knees within hours," said a trader at the local vegetable market, describing the challenging conditions they faced. In Vijay Singh Patel Nagar, numerous households experienced flooding, though the water receded after the rainfall subsided.

The downpour led to several accidents across the city. Near Sanganeri Gate, the strong current of rainwater swept away a motorcycle, while near the bus stand, a car got stuck in a rain-filled drain. The heavy precipitation also affected the district's Hamirgarh (125mm), Mandalgarh (130mm) and Kotri (111mm) areas.

While Bhilwara bore the brunt of the rainfall, other districts in Rajasthan also experienced significant precipitation. Niwai in Tonk district recorded 170mm, followed by Chaksu in Jaipur with 150mm.

The state capital Jaipur, however, experienced only mild showers on Saturday, in contrast to the heavy rainfall it received the previous day. The moderate rainfall kept the city's temperature pleasant, with a minimum of 25.3°C and a maximum of 34.0°C.

The rainfall brought some positive news for water resources, as the Bisalpur Dam witnessed a marginal rise in its water level. An official reported that the water level increased to 312.47 meters against its full capacity of 315.50 meters.

Looking ahead, the meteorological department forecasts continued monsoon activity in many parts of Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Kota divisions over the next 24 hours. However, districts in the Bikaner division, including Churu, Bikaner, Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar, are expected to remain dry.