Severe border storm devastates Barmer and Jaisalmer; 2 children killed, many injured

JAISALMER: A powerful storm accompanied by heavy rainfall, with wind speeds estimated between 80 and 100 kmph, swept across the desert districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer late Monday night, causing widespread destruction, loss of life, and extensive damage to homes, power infrastructure, solar and wind energy projects.

The severe weather system, which entered from the Pakistan border region, left many families homeless as houses collapsed, power supply systems were crippled, and hundreds of villages were plunged into darkness.

Two Children Killed in Barmer

In Barmer district's Bola village, two separate incidents of wall collapse claimed the lives of two young children. The victims were identified as Khagendra, 8, son of Sheraram, and Khumana Ram, 3, son of Chandana Ram, both residents of Sabri Nagar in Bola village.

According to family members, strong winds and sudden rainfall caused the walls of their homes to collapse during the night. The children were trapped beneath the debris and were rushed to Barmer Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

Chandana Ram, father of one of the deceased children, said the family was asleep when the storm struck without warning. The room collapsed suddenly, leaving no time to react.

Several Injured in House and Tin-Shed Collapses

In Paboosariya village of Ramsar subdivision, a tin-shed structure collapsed during the storm, trapping a father and son beneath the debris. In another incident, a woman suffered head injuries when an iron angle fell on her while she was attempting to escape from her house. All injured persons were shifted to hospital and later referred to Barmer for further treatment.

Two more youths were injured after a tin shed collapsed due to strong winds.

Families Left Homeless

The storm caused significant destruction in Sanvalor village near Chohtan, where cement-sheet and brick structures collapsed one after another. Residents narrowly escaped by running out of their homes as walls and roofs began to fall.

Many mud houses with cemented tin roofs collapsed across border villages, leaving dozens of families without shelter. Residents spent the night outdoors in fear as years of hard work were destroyed within minutes.

Livestock Losses and Agricultural Damage

Villagers reported that hundreds of trees were uprooted, livestock were killed, and household belongings were damaged. Strong winds carried away tin roofs and caused extensive losses in rural areas, estimated to be worth millions of rupees.

Many affected villagers complained that no government officials had yet visited their areas to assess the damage.

Wind Turbine Collapses, Solar Plants Damaged

The storm inflicted major losses on renewable energy infrastructure in both districts. Near Devka village in Barmer, a private company's wind turbine collapsed under the force of the storm.

In Jaisalmer's Fatehgarh region, several solar power plants suffered extensive damage. Hundreds of solar panels were uprooted or blown away by strong winds.

At a power plant in Rewadi village, a worker was injured after being struck by flying solar panels. He was admitted to Fatehgarh Community Health Centre and is undergoing treatment.

Cement Plant Accident Injures Workers

In Parewar village under Mohangarh police station limits in Jaisalmer district, a tin shed at a private cement plant was blown away and crashed onto sleeping workers. Around 18 labourers sustained injuries in the incident.

Authorities indicated that the total number of injured persons across both districts may be significantly higher as reports continue to emerge from remote areas.

Massive Power Outages Across Hundreds of Villages

The storm severely damaged electricity infrastructure. Hundreds of electric poles, transformers and 132 KV grid stations were destroyed in both districts.

In Jaisalmer alone, more than 400 electricity poles collapsed within a span of about two and a half hours. Around 150 villages in the Sam and Khuiyala regions remained without power for over 13 hours.

Damage to the Kathodi Grid Sub Station and several feeders disrupted electricity and drinking water supply. With tubewells and water supply schemes affected, many villages are facing an acute drinking water crisis amid intense heat and humidity.

Teams from Jodhpur Discom have been deployed to restore damaged transmission lines and feeders.

Urban Areas Also Affected

Jaisalmer city witnessed heavy damage in the RIICO industrial area. Rainwater entered several shops, causing losses to traders, while strong winds ripped away tin sheds and damaged commercial establishments.

Administration Begins Damage Assessment

Barmer Additional District Collector Rajendra Singh Chandawat said the storm caused significant damage across several regions and confirmed the deaths of two children in Bola village. He stated that revenue officials and local administrations have been directed to prepare detailed damage assessment reports.

Power distribution companies have also begun evaluating losses to electrical infrastructure, which are expected to run into crores of rupees.

Authorities in both Barmer and Jaisalmer districts continue restoration and relief efforts as residents struggle to recover from one of the most destructive storms to hit the border region in recent years.