Rajasthan flood crisis: 11 dead, 2-km-long crater forms in Sawai Madhopur, villages cut off

Floodwaters submerge villages in Sawai Madhopur after Surwal Dam overflow.

A catastrophic land collapse, triggered by an overflowing dam, has carved a massive two-kilometre-long crater in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district, severing access routes and submerging entire villages under floodwater. The state-wide disaster has claimed lives, with authorities reporting 11 fatalities in rain-related incidents over the weekend, according to The Indian Express.

The crisis began on Sunday when the Surwal Dam, overwhelmed by relentless rainfall, overflowed. The torrential force of the water caused a vast section of land near a village to cave in. As reported by NDTV, the event left behind a gaping chasm measuring 2 km long, 100 feet wide, and 55 feet deep. The water surged over fields, with Jadawata village bearing the brunt of the destruction.

According to a TOI report, entire settlements including Surwal, Dhanoli, Gogor, Jadavata, Shesha and Machhipura were inundated, with hundreds of homes swallowed by water. The flooding forced mass evacuations, stranding many residents who sought refuge on rooftops. Essential supplies are running critically low and hundreds are now forced to live in relief camps.

Relief operations face significant hurdles as key infrastructure has been washed away. The Lalsot-Kota Mega Highway remains underwater, with only tractors and trolleys able to navigate the submerged roadway, severely hampering movement.

The devastation extended beyond Sawai Madhopur, with severe waterlogging reported in Tonk and Dausa districts. The extreme weather prompted official action, with an Orange alert issued for several districts including Ajmer, Bhilwara, Sikar, Sirohi, Jalore, Nagaur and Pali on Sunday, as per The Indian Express. Schools have been shut in approximately 20 districts, including Jaipur, for one to three days as a precaution.

Rajasthan minister Kirodi Lal Meena visited the site and acknowledged the unprecedented scale of the destruction. He was quoted saying by TOI, "There has never been such large extent of rainfall in Sawai Madhopur. Moreover, Soorwal Dam overflowed... and water submerged dozens of villages. Two temples, houses and shops were swept away." He assured that those who have suffered losses will be compensated according to official criteria.

MP Harish Chandra Meena also inspected the affected zones and directed officials to focus on urgent drainage and relief measures.

In a separate incident linked to the extreme weather, a portion of the historic Rambagh wall near the Jwala Mata Temple, a route leading to Amer Fort, collapsed due to the downpour, TOI reported. As a safety precaution, authorities have suspended elephant rides at the popular tourist site.

While experts warned the situation could worsen if rains continue, the Jaipur Meteorological Centre offered a glimmer of hope. It forecasts an improvement in the coming days, expecting all districts to return to a 'No Warning' Green alert status by Thursday.