India floods: Video shows man swept away in Rajasthan floodwater, rescued by hotel worker

Torrential rain continues to batter parts of Rajasthan, with Ajmer emerging as one of the hardest-hit districts. According to media reports, striking visuals from the city show several iconic landmarks—including the Khwaja Garib Nawaz Dargah—submerged under floodwater, as the narrow lanes around the shrine turned into rushing streams.

A widely shared video shows a pilgrim being swept away by gushing floodwater outside the Dargah’s Nizam Gate. The man, seen holding a water bottle, struggles against the current as bystanders attempt to help.

In a heroic moment, a staff member from the nearby Hashmi Hotel jumps into action and manages to pull him to safety. Media reports credit his quick intervention with saving the man’s life.

Another dramatic video from the same area captured the terrifying moment floodwaters surged through the streets late Friday night, sweeping a man on a bike off his path.

Locals rushed in to rescue him, narrowly averting tragedy. The footage shows rainwater rushing through the passage near the Dargah like a river, dragging carts and debris as panic spread through the area.

The situation turned especially dangerous when another devotee slipped near the Nizam Gate amid the intense flow. A hotel staffer again stepped in to rescue the person.

Footage shared by ANI showed water spilling over from Ana Sagar Lake, flooding roads and residential areas. Locals were seen placing sandbags in an attempt to contain the deluge.

“The waterlogging is due to the escape channels of the lake,” Ajmer Municipal Corporation Chief Engineer Vinod Manohar told ANI. “The gates were opened by nearly 30 inches. There has been 8–9 inches of rainfall since yesterday. If needed, we will adjust the flow.”

Flooding also extended to the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, where water entered several departments. A visitor told ANI, “It has been raining since 5 AM. Water has entered many parts of the hospital.”

Health Officer Prithviraj Singh urged residents to remain indoors. “Today’s red alert has been issued by the weather department. We request people to avoid waterlogged areas,” he said. Singh added that municipal teams have been deployed to key affected zones including Brahampuri, Aam Ka Talab, and New Govind Nagar.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported widespread rainfall across the state, with Nainwa in Bundi recording the highest at 234 mm, followed by Sangod in Kota with 166 mm. Several villages remain cut off, with floodwaters entering homes up to two feet deep. Relief operations are underway in multiple districts.

As a safety measure, district administrations in Ajmer, Kota, Baran, Bundi, Jhalawar, and Rajsamand declared a holiday for all schools on Saturday. Private institutions in Nagaur and Pali were also asked to remain closed.

According to the IMD, the depression system driving the current rain spell is expected to weaken, with rainfall activity likely to reduce starting July 20. Authorities remain on high alert, with temporary shelters set up for displaced families and disaster response teams stationed in vulnerable areas.

With inputs from ANI, IANS