Just before the monsoon's departure from Rajasthan, weather conditions have turned severe once again. The Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has issued a 'Yellow Alert' for 29 districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall across the eastern and central parts of the state. Since morning, the Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur, and Ajmer divisions have witnessed overcast skies and intermittent spells of rain.
A new weather system developing over the state is causing a rapid rise in water levels in major rivers such as the Chambal, Banas, and Kalisindh. In view of the heavy inflow into the catchment areas of the Kota Barrage and Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, authorities have heightened vigilance and issued warnings to villages situated in low-lying areas.
This sudden, heavy rainfall has disrupted daily life in urban areas. Traffic has been severely affected as water has inundated roads and low-lying neighbourhoods in major cities like Jaipur and Kota. Teams from local bodies and municipal corporations have been deployed to drain the water using pumping sets.
On the positive side, the rainfall has brought water storage levels in the state's major drinking water and irrigation dams close to their maximum capacity. This will facilitate the provision of adequate irrigation water for farmers and drinking water for cities during the upcoming Rabi season.
According to the Meteorological Department, a spell of moderate to heavy rain—accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning—is expected to continue in these districts of Rajasthan for the next two to three days. The administration has strictly advised the public to avoid venturing near rivers, drains, and causeways.