Ajmer: Following heavy rains in the region, the embankment of the Boraj pond, located on the outskirts of Ajmer city, collapsed at midnight Thursday, triggering flash floods that destroyed over 100 houses in Swastik Nagar and nearby colonies.After finding erosion of the embankment earlier, the district administration had relocated families neighbouring the pond to relief camps set up in govt schools. But the breach triggered considerable collateral damage, flooding nearby colonies and leaving a trail of destruction. Residents woke up Friday to find their homes inundated with up to five to six feet of water. Many structures have been severely damaged or completely destroyed.Civil defence, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), municipal teams and district administration rushed to the spot and began rescue operations. Tractors were used to evacuate families trapped in their homes. Several women and children were seen in distress as they were being rescued from waist-deep and, in some places, chest-deep water.The local community, many of whom had built their homes with bank loans, demanded the district administration to provide them with new housing.Pooja, a resident, said, “There was a marriage in the house and we had prepared everything for it. But now nothing remains.” Another resident Dinesh Kumar, who had recently built his house, said, “All my dreams have vanished. The administration knew about the incident, but nothing was done to save our houses.”As the floodwaters receded, the extent of the damage became clear. Mud covered the floors, walls had collapsed, and personal belongings were swept away. Vishal Bansal, another resident, said, “My scooter too vanished in the water.”In response to the disaster, officials have decided to conduct a survey of the affected area and report to the state govt for action. Meanwhile, the displaced families continue to reside in relief camps.
