Rajasthan is facing a severe flooding crisis in multiple districts, with Ajmer being one of the worst hit. Heavy monsoon rainfall has led to dramatic scenes of floodwaters sweeping away bikes, carts, and even people, highlighting the intensity of the deluge. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts, indicating the expectation of extremely heavy rainfall.

Widespread Impact of Flooding

The relentless downpours have paralyzed daily life in Ajmer and surrounding areas. Visuals circulating on social media and news outlets depict the severity of the situation:

• Infrastructure Damage: Roads have transformed into rivers, with water submerging streets, intersections, and low-lying areas. Bridges have been damaged, and traffic has been brought to a standstill.
• Hospital Flooding: Critical infrastructure, such as Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, has been inundated, with floodwaters entering vital units like the MRI department and emergency corridors. Staff and patients have been forced to scramble to move equipment and seek drier locations.
• School Closures: In response to the hazardous conditions, the District Collector of Ajmer ordered the immediate shutdown of all schools to ensure student safety.
• Residential Areas Submerged: Over 100 hotels and nearly 1,000 homes in Pushkar, a major tourist hub near Ajmer, have reported interior flooding, leading to property damage and power outages. Moti Vihar Colony and other residential areas have been submerged, disrupting power, transport, and daily life.
• Wall Collapses: A boundary wall near a city drain collapsed, narrowly missing a woman, underscoring the dangers posed by the heavy rainfall.

Official Response and Relief Efforts

Authorities are on high alert and have deployed disaster response forces to carry out relief work. Coordination between local bodies has been ramped up to address the mounting challenges.

• Deployment of Forces: Disaster Response Forces have been deployed to assist with rescue and relief operations.
• Alerts and Advisories: The IMD has issued heavy rainfall alerts for Ajmer and other districts, with downpours expected to persist. Advisory messages have urged locals to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
• Dam Management: To prevent river overflow, barrage gates were opened in Kota. The Bisalpur dam has reached 80% capacity due to continuous rainfall.

Broader Regional Situation

Ajmer is not the only district affected; severe rainfall has impacted numerous regions of Rajasthan. Red alerts for extreme rainfall have been issued for Ajmer, Bhilwara, Bundi, Kota, Tonk, and Pali. Orange alerts for substantial rain cover Baran, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur, Sirohi, Udaipur, and Nagaur.

Warnings and Forecasts

The IMD has warned that heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, is likely to continue in Ajmer and surrounding areas. Heavy precipitation is expected to persist, with only gradual improvement anticipated from July 20 onward. The weather department has predicted extremely heavy rainfall in Rajasthan.

The current crisis in Ajmer highlights the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to extreme weather events. Experts emphasize the need for actionable city-level climate policies, improved drainage systems, and resilient infrastructure to mitigate the impact of increasingly frequent and intense rainfall.