AJMER: The Chief Commissioner has issued the following statement:- “The officer on special duty appointed in connection with the recent flood disaster in Ajmer Merwara has after thorough and careful investigation reported following loss of life and property: human life 1,691, cattle 662, goats and sheep 5,275, and collapsed houses, about 3,300.

In addition, grain and ornaments valued at many thousands of Rupees were also lost. Nearly 10,000 bighas of cultivable land has been damaged of which half the area is reclaimable … As far as Ajmer Merwara is concerned, the accounts of loss of life which have recently been appearing in the press are greatly exaggerated. The organisation set up to undertake relief measures is working satisfactorily. Devastated area has been divided into five circles with an officer in charge of each circle in addition to other officers to supervise…

The Government of India have deputed five Sub-Assistant Surgeons, five Compounders and one Dispenser for duty in the villages affected and have supplied an adequate stock of medicines. There has been no epidemic of any kind and the state of health of the people is as good as it can be in the circumstances. For immediate needs, the Govern­ment of India promptly place Rs. 100,000 at the disposal of the Local Government…”

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2018