Rajasthan downpour leaves 12 dead, crops damaged

Rains and hailstorms lashed the state of Rajasthan killing 12 people and damaging Rabi crops in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.

12 people were also injured in separate rain-related incidents besides scores of cattle perishing in the thunderstorms, they said.

Six people were killed in Bundi district, two each in Rajsamand and Sawaimadhopur districts, and one each in Bikaner and Ajmer districts, police said.

Two women, working in the field, were hit by lightning at Ganjaji-ka-Khera village in Rajsamand district, they said.

10 others, including three minors, were injured different parts of the state, police said.

However, incessant rains, hailstorm and winter's revival have not only affected normal life but also caused damage to standing Rabi crops in entire Rajasthan, a MeT official said.

The district collectors were asked to report the causalities of both human and cattle due to lightning or rain- related mishaps, a senior official from the state Calamity and Relief department said. Sawaimadhopur recorded the maximum rainfall of 70 mm followed by Kota 58, Bansasthali 55, Bundi 41, Bundi 41, Jaipur 36, Ajmer 28, Arenpura 25, Chittorgarh 19, Bikaner 13 and one to 12 mm at most places in the state, the report said.

A strong Western Disturbance (WD) from Arabian sea through Pakistan is passing over north-west of Rajasthan with a circulation speed of 7.6 km height, a senior MeT official said.

The strong WD was causing cloud thundering with lightning and hailstorms, he said.

Hailstorms and unseasonal rains in the month have damaged the Rabi crop specially wheat, zeera, and mustard. The crops were seen flatten on the ground before harvesting near state capital, a senior officer from the Agriculture Department said.

Of the 33 districts, the Rabi crops in at least 20 districts were severely affected, the official said, adding the harvest food grains lying in the open markets were also reportedly spoilt. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is reviewing the calamity due to the unexpected weather and has directed the district collectors to file report on the crops damage, human and livestock deaths at the earliest, another official said.