Newly-built Malsisar dam in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu suffers damage, nearby villages flooded

The ambitious Kumbharam Arya Lift Canal Project, which was set to provide water to hundreds of villages in Jhunjhunu and its adjoining districts in Rajasthan, suffered a setback today as water breached the dam built at Malsisar town and flooded nearby villages. 

Water has surrounded the Malsisar town, but there is no loss of life reported, local authorities said. The tehsil bhawan, police station and other official buildings are surrounded by water. The pumping station and other buildings associated with the project too have suffered damage.

#Malsisar_Dam at #Jhunjhunu breached. No loss of life. #Part of soon to be launched ambitious #Kumbharam_Arya_Lift_Canal_Project to provide water to Jhunjhunu district.@jaipurdna @dna pic.twitter.com/pYp6xbyf1f

— Sangeeta Pranvendra (@sangpran) March 31, 2018

SDRF teams have been rushed from Jaipur to help in rescue and relief works which is being overseen by senior police and administrative officers. 

The flow of water is being checked by mud bags. 

According to Jhunjhunu collector Dinesh Yadav, medical and relief teams are functioning in the area. There is no loss of life reported yet, he said. 

The dam has a capacity of 7000 quisec litres and was full to a capacity of 4000 qusec litres. 

The Malsisar dam was built as part of the Kumbharam Arya Lift Canal Project and was set to provide water to over 1400 villages of Rajasthan The construction of the dam started in 2013 and was completed only three months ago. It was built at the cost of Rs 588 crore. 

The charge was still with the construction company and had not been handed over to the government. An inquiry would be initiated into the cause of the mishap, authorities said.