Jaipur: At least 30 students and 6 school staff from Mahatma Gandhi Vidyalaya in Semliya are stranded in their school building in Phagi sub-division area of Jaipur in Rajasthan.
The group, who had gone to the school to celebrate Independence Day, were unable to return home due to a strong current in nearby Maasi river.
Rescue operations begin in morning
The students and staff had hoped to head back after the celebrations, but the fast-flowing river made it impossible to cross. With no immediate help from the administration, local villagers took it upon themselves to provide assistance. They swam across the river to bring food and water to the stranded group.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been informed of the situation. The SDRF officials stated that rescue operations will begin in the morning. Till then, the children and staff remained at the school overnight.
Weather forecast for Rajasthan
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rainfall for several parts of Rajasthan. On August 16, parts of Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota and Jodhpur could see moderate to heavy rain, with some areas possibly experiencing very heavy rainfall.
From August 17, rainfall is likely to decrease across the state.
In the next two to three days, moderate to heavy rain is also expected in some areas of Bikaner, Udaipur and Bharatpur.
