Rajasthan rain havoc: Overflowing dam creates huge crater in Sawai Madhopur; villages submerged, roads washed out, people stuck on rooftops | Jaipur News
NEW DELHI: A massive crater has formed in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district after relentless rainfall led to the overflowing of the Surwal Dam, triggering land collapses and widespread flooding across several villages on Sunday. A large portion of land near the village caved in, leaving behind a gaping crater and cutting off access routes.Entire settlements, including Surwal, Dhanoli, Gogor, Jadavata, Shesha, and Machhipura, are now submerged, with hundreds of homes inundated.The situation has forced mass evacuations, with many residents taking refuge on rooftops. Food and drinking water are in short supply, and relief operations are being hampered by impassable roads and washed-out infrastructure.The Lalsot-Kota Mega Highway has also gone under water. Only tractors and trolleys can navigate the submerged roadway, severely disrupting movement in and out of the flood-affected areas.Other areas in Tonk district, including Kalipaltan, Chatra Khatik, Kafila Bazar, Panch Batti, Dhannatlai, and Kachahari Road, have also seen severe waterlogging and infrastructural damage.Rajasthan minister Kirodi Lal Meena visited the site and acknowledged the scale of destruction caused by the rainfall. “There has never been such large extent of rainfall in Sawai Madhopur. Moreover, Soorwal Dam overflowed… and water submerged dozens of villages. Two temples, houses and shops were swept away. Those who have suffered losses will be compensated according to the criteria.”MP Harish Chandra Meena also inspected the affected zones and directed officials to focus on drainage and relief measures.Meanwhile, in Dausa district, 24 hours of continuous rainfall have wreaked havoc. Roads in low-lying areas have turned into rivers, with entire neighborhoods submerged and government offices flooded. The service lane along Jaipur Road is completely waterlogged, cutting off access to over half a dozen colonies.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for continued heavy rainfall in the coming days, urging residents to remain cautious.In a separate incident linked to the rainfall, a portion of the Rambagh wall near the Jwala Mata Temple, a route leading to Amer Fort, collapsed due to the downpour. As a safety measure, authorities have suspended elephant rides at the historic site.
