Two children drowned in a swollen pond and a body was fished out of a canal in Rajasthan’s Pali district, taking the death toll to 17 since July 22, even as the flood situation in southwestern parts of the state improved.

In rescue operations in Jalore and Barmer districts more than 140 people were relocated to safer places by different agencies, including the Army.

The children drowned in a pond at Marwar Junction while the body of a man, who was swept along with his motorcycle, was fished out from a canal in Sumperpur, Disaster Management and Relief Department secretary Hemant Gera said.

He said since July 22, 17 persons have died, including six persons in Jalore, four each in Pali and Sirohi and three in Barmer district in rain-related incidents. Rescue operations were also carried out in Barmer where the swollen luni river has inundated several villages inundated. Fifty-five people were rescued, Gera said.

In Rajasthan since June 1, 43 people have been killed in rain-related incidents, he said.

Eight-seven people were also rescued and relocated from Sakhar, Surva, Duthwa and Padradi villages by an Army column at Sanchor in Jalore district, a defence spokesperson said.

The operation included three medical emergencies, including a case of cardiac arrest at Surava village and rescuing an unwell lady from Duthwa village, the spokesperson said.

Heavy downpour since the last one week has kept normal life affected in Barmer, Pali, Jalore and Sirohi districts, where many villages are kept on alert.

Relief and rescue operation is going on at all the affected districts by the Army, the NDRF, the SDRF and the district administration.

In last 24 hours, heavy rainfall occurred at a few places in Jodhpur division. light to moderate rainfall at most places in Jodhpur division, at a many places in Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajmer divisions and at isolated places at Bharatpur, Kota and Bikaner divisions.

In East Rajasthan, Mount Abu and Mount Abu tehsil recorded five cm rainfall followed by four cm each in Pindwara and Sheoganj in Sirohi district.

In West Rajasthan, Sinderi, Sedwa and Gida Sr in Barmar district recorded 11 cm, 8 cm and 6 cm respectively, in Pali district Rohat and Marwar Junction recorded 10 cm and 9 cm respectively, Tinvri in Jodhpur district recorded 8 cm.

The MeT department has predicted heavy rainfall at isolated place in Udaipur and Jodhpur divisions of the state during the next 24 hours.