Ajmer, Rajasthan, is grappling with significant disruption and hardship following days of torrential rainfall. The overflow of Ana Sagar Lake has exacerbated the situation, leading to widespread waterlogging and impacting daily life across the city.
The relentless downpour, which has been battering the region, has caused the Ana Sagar Lake to exceed its capacity. On Saturday, the lake's water level reached 15 feet and 11 inches, surpassing its normal capacity of 13 feet, due to the continuous inflow from Varuna Sagar Lake (formerly Foy Sagar) and the Badi River. This overflow has resulted in extensive flooding in the surrounding residential areas, forcing emergency evacuations and disrupting normal activities. A road connecting Bajrang Garh to the market has been closed due to the flooding.
The Municipal Corporation Chief Engineer, Vinod Manohar, explained that the waterlogging stemmed from the lake's water entering through escape channels and that the channel gates had been opened by approximately 30 inches to manage the situation. Adjustments to these gates are being made as needed to control the water flow.
The impact of the heavy rains and subsequent flooding has been felt across various sectors. Schools have been closed for two consecutive days as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students. In a dramatic incident near the Khwaja Garib Nawaz Dargah, a man was swept away by the strong current of floodwaters but was rescued by a quick-thinking hotel staff member. A video of the incident, which surfaced online, showed the intensity of the flooding, with water rushing through the lanes like a river.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, a government-run facility, also experienced flooding, disrupting its normal functioning. A local visitor reported that rainwater had entered many parts of the hospital since early Saturday morning.
In response to the crisis, the district administration has mobilized rescue teams and civil defense personnel to evacuate residents stranded in their homes using boats. Teams comprising engineers, sanitation staff, and healthcare workers have been deployed to vulnerable areas prone to waterlogging to provide assistance and mitigate the impact of the flooding. The municipal authorities have urged residents to remain indoors and avoid areas with excessive water accumulation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for several districts in Rajasthan, including Ajmer, anticipating heavy rainfall. An orange alert was sounded for ten other districts, including Rajsamand, while a yellow alert covered Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Sikar. The IMD has predicted that Ajmer is likely to receive up to 79 mm of rainfall and that a depression over northwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining southwest Uttar Pradesh is expected to impact eastern Rajasthan.
The recent extreme weather is part of a larger pattern, with Rajasthan having received 126 percent more rainfall than normal since the monsoon season began on June 1. While the Meteorological Department anticipates a decline in rainfall starting Sunday, the existing damage and the risk of further incidents remain a concern.
