Rajasthan floods: 91 dead as monsoon unleashes dam overflow and cave-ins from Jaipur to Kota

Monsoon turns deadly across Rajasthan

By Crispin

Relentless rain has turned large parts of Rajasthan into a disaster zone. At least 91 people have died and more than 50 are injured over the past two months as the second phase of the monsoon intensified. Many deaths were caused by sudden floods and lightning strikes. Homes have crumbled under waterlogging, livestock has been lost, and entire villages are cut off.

Statewide rainfall is running 48% above average this season, and the latest 24-hour spell was brutal. Dausa topped the chart with 285 mm, Nagaur logged 173 mm, Deh 137 mm, and Jaipur recorded 92 mm. These are cloudburst-style numbers, the kind that overwhelm drains, fields, and riverbanks in hours, not days.

The worst-hit stretch runs from Jaipur down through Tonk and Sawai Madhopur into the Hadoti belt—Kota, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar—along with parts of Chittorgarh. Villages like Surwal, Dhanoli, and Gogor are under water. Many families have climbed to terraces and tin roofs, signaling to rescue teams for help as they ration food and drinking water.

The most dramatic damage sits near Surwal Dam in Sawai Madhopur, where an overflow coincided with a massive ground failure. A 2-kilometer-long land cave-in opened up near Jadawata village, carving out a deep crater that gulped fields and snapped approach roads. Engineers say such collapses usually follow extreme scouring and seepage that weaken the soil from below. An assessment is underway to check the dam’s embankments and the stability of nearby structures.

Transport has taken a direct hit. The Lalsot–Kota Mega Highway is no longer a highway—it looks like a channel. The Jaipur–Kota route near Deoli is flooded, and traffic on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway in Kota has been halted. On smaller roads, broken culverts and fast current make even tractor crossings risky. Relief teams are advising people to avoid night travel and to steer clear of underpasses, where water can rise dangerously fast.

Rivers are running high. In the Kota division, the Chambal has climbed to 132.80 meters—nearly two meters above the danger mark of 130.79. Authorities are releasing water from Kota Barrage to manage pressure, but that adds to the risk downstream in low-lying settlements. With more rain in the forecast, managers have to juggle inflows, safe discharge, and the safety of communities perched along the banks.

Rescue operations have scaled up quickly. The Army, NDRF, and SDRF are in the field with boats, ropes, and inflatable rafts. Tractors are ferrying people across submerged stretches where boats can’t reach. In some pockets, teams are moving on foot, tying lines to trees and balconies to pull stranded residents to safer ground. Hundreds have been evacuated so far and shifted to temporary shelters in schools and community halls.

The Jaipur Meteorological Centre has warned of continued heavy rain across 22 districts, including parts of the Udaipur and Jodhpur divisions and the southern belt. Officials expect the monsoon to stay active for at least five more days. That means fresh inflows into already full reservoirs, more stress on embankments, and a persistent risk of flash floods in small rivers and nalas.

Daily life is far from normal. Waterlogging has blocked access to markets and clinics in several towns. Drainage systems are choked, and many neighborhoods are wading through mixed stormwater and sewage. Repair crews are working in gaps between showers to reconnect broken stretches, clear debris, and restore basic services.

Farmers face a tough season. The Hadoti region, a key hub for soybean and other kharif crops, has seen standing fields submerged for days. Prolonged flooding can wipe out yields and trigger fungal diseases once water recedes. In eastern districts, vegetable growers are reporting losses from washed-out beds. Many will need seeds, fertilizer, and cash support to restart once the fields dry.

Why is this happening? Extreme downpours are becoming more common. Meteorologists at IMD and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology have tracked a rise in high-intensity rain events across central India in recent decades. Warmer air holds more moisture, and when that moisture is released, it falls in short, violent bursts. Urban expansion without matching drainage upgrades makes the surge worse—water has nowhere to go.

Lightning has been deadly this season too. The long dry spells between waves of rain can supercharge thunderstorm cells. When the storms break, the strikes are frequent and intense, often hitting open fields, mobile towers, and isolated trees. Authorities are asking people to keep off rooftops during thunder, unplug appliances, and follow simple safety rules until the storm passes.

Rescue, response, and what to watch

District teams have opened control rooms, and gram panchayats are helping with local lists for evacuation, medicine, and rations. Relief camps are stocking staples, clean water, and baby food where possible. Medical teams are on standby for injuries, infections, and snakebites—common in flood-hit zones. After waters recede, the next challenge is sanitation: disinfecting handpumps, clearing muck from lanes, and controlling mosquito breeding.

If you live in a flood-prone area, plan for fast moves. Keep a small go-bag ready with IDs, basic medicines, a flashlight, phone chargers or a power bank, dry snacks, and water purification tablets if you have them. Move valuables and documents to higher shelves. Keep fuel in your vehicle if roads are open. Share your location with a relative outside the flood zone.

• Do not cross flowing water—six inches can knock you off your feet; two feet can move a car.
• Avoid underpasses and low bridges; they can turn into traps when water accelerates.
• During lightning, get indoors; if outside, crouch low, avoid trees and metal fences, and ditch umbrellas.
• Assume floodwater is contaminated; boil or treat water before drinking.
• Watch for cracks in walls and floors after the water drops; report any tilting.

On the rivers, all eyes are on levels and releases. If rain holds in the upper catchments, barrage managers may need to increase discharge to keep structures safe. That can push water into villages downstream, even if it isn’t raining there. Local announcements—sirens, loudspeakers, and phone alerts—are critical. If you hear a release warning, move to higher ground promptly.

Roads will reopen in phases. First come the quick wins: clearing branches, pumping out underpasses, fixing small culverts. Longer repairs—collapsed shoulders, scoured foundations near bridges, stretches where the blacktop has peeled away—will take time. Expect detours around Kota and Tonk, and be ready for surprise closures if fresh rain hits.

Markets feel the strain too. Supplies of vegetables, milk, and cooking gas can wobble if routes are blocked for days. Local administrations often step in with emergency passes for delivery trucks and priority clearances for medical supplies. Check neighborhood groups for updates before stepping out.

Public health teams worry about what follows the flood: diarrhea, jaundice, skin infections, and the spread of dengue and malaria. Simple steps help—dry damp rooms, use covered buckets for water, and clear any standing water in pots, tires, and planters. If you feel feverish after a mosquito bite, avoid self-medication and get tested.

For now, the forecast points to more rain in parts of southern and western Rajasthan, with heavy to very heavy spells in pockets. That means the ground, already saturated, won’t soak up much more. Runoff will be quick, and minor streams can turn fierce in minutes. Stay alert near riverbanks, quarry pits, and low-lying colonies.

This is a hard week for the state. The numbers tell a stark story: dozens of lives lost, homes and roads broken, and fields wiped clean. Yet the response on the ground is moving—soldiers hauling boats across fields, neighbors forming chains to pull each other out, doctors wading in with medicine kits. As the rain keeps coming, the smartest thing we can do is listen for warnings, look out for one another, and give the water space to pass.

For those tracking the forecast: the Jaipur Met Centre expects the monsoon pulse to stay active for at least five days. If you’re in the Udaipur or Jodhpur divisions, or in the southern districts of the state, watch for heavy bands late afternoon into the night. If you must travel, share your route, keep your phone charged, and check local advisories on the hour. The danger isn’t over yet, but being a step ahead can save lives in the Rajasthan floods.