People in flood-hit villages of Barmer district were evacuated and two helicopters were requisitioned for rescue work as the death toll in the current spell of rains in Rajasthan went up to 31 on Tuesday.
Residents of Kawas village in Barmer district, washed by a flash-flood after a breach in a railway bridge, were rescued by the Army and police. However, an old man died of a heart attack during the operation, Barmer Superintendent of Police Umesh Chand Datta said over the phone.
He said another village, Bhadkha, remained cut off due to flood waters inundating roads and the sand dunes around it.
Around 200 Army jawans were deployed in Kawas and more personnel were sought for Bhadkha.
Two helicopters had also been requistioned from the IAF and Cairn Energy, the SP said.
The National Highway between Barmer and Shiv was breached at several places, while most parts of Jaisalmer were also reeling under heavy rains.
Three localities, including a Social Welfare Department hostel, were flooded and people shifted to safer places while the water level in Pali, Sirohi and Jalore receded due to a let-up, Jodhpur Divisional Commissioner B L Arya told PTI.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who returned to Jaipur after an aerial survey of flood-hit areas, held a meeting with secretaries of Relief, Irrigation, PWD, Police and Home departments asking them to keep a round-the-clock vigil.
The government in a statement confirmed 31 rain-related deaths since Friday.
Eight persons died in Pali and Barmer, 5 in Banswara, 3 in Chittorgarh, 2 in Rajsamand and Sirohi and one in Dungarpur, Jhalawar and Jalore, it said.
