Heavy rains over the past two days have killed at least 27 people and left thousands homeless in western Rajasthan state, officials said on Thursday. "Twenty-seven persons have been killed in rain-related incidents. Maximum deaths have occurred in state capital Jaipur," an official of the state disaster management authority told AFP.
Torrential rains that began on Tuesday night have led to flooding in the normally arid state, throwing normal life out of gear. "Many places have been inundated in different districts of the state following heavy rainfall," the state minister for disaster management Brijendra Ola said.
"Efforts are on to provide relief to people. Those who were stranded in low-laying areas have been evacuated and shifted to safer places like community halls, schools and other buildings," he added. Earth-moving machines and pumps have been deployed in rescue work. The state's meteorological department said the capital city of Jaipur was experiencing its heaviest rains since 1981, causing flooding in low-lying neighbourhoods and slum areas.