Heavy rains in the state of Rajasthan have claimed the lives of at least 14 people and have left hundreds homeless during the wee hours of August 22, 2012. More than 300mm of rain was recorded in Jaipur tehsil and 170 mm in Jaipur killing two in the rural area and two each in the Jaipur rural, Dholpur and Dausa district.
More rain is expected in the next 48 hours and the government of Rajasthan has declared red alert in several parts of the country and the state stepped up with the arrangements. Just a few weeks back the state was suffering from drought like conditions.
The rains arrived on Tuesday night in several districts of the state including Tonk, Sikar, Dausa, Jhunjhunu, Hanumangarh, Jaipur and Bikaner. These areas are expected to receive more rain in the next 48 hours.
On August 22, 2012 the Prime Minister called the CM Ashok Gehlot to take stock of the situation. A compensation of Rs. 1.50 lakh has been announced for the next kin of the deceased. Gehlot had held a high level meeting to chart out an action plan for handling the situation. An official statement from the statement from the state government said that Gehlot has stressed on speeding up relief work.
