Bharatpur/Barmer, July 17 -- At least five people died by drowning in the past three days in Bharatpur and Dholpur districts, while over 50,000 people in Pali are reeling from severe urban flooding due to heavy rainfall and rising river levels in eastern Rajasthan. In the latest incident on Wednesday, a 35-year-old man, Mukesh Jatav, drowned in the Gambhir river near Chahal village under Bayana police station limits in Bharatpur. Jatav, a resident of Lal Darwaja in Bayana town, had visited the river along with neighbours to witness the heavy water flow following the release of water from Karauli's Pahchana dam. He was pulled out by rescue teams and taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead. "After the water release from the dam, the river is in full flow. Despite warnings, people continue to gather at the riverside. Mukesh lost his balance and was swept away," said Bayana police sub-inspector Rakesh Sharma. Authorities have issued advisories urging people to stay away from riverbanks, especially after heavy inflows, but many, particularly people, continue to visit such sites to shoot videos and selfies for social media. This marks the fifth drowning death in Bharatpur and Dholpur districts within just three days, raising serious concerns over public safety during the monsoon. Police and administration officials are now actively patrolling riversides to discourage risky behaviour. Meanwhile, in western Rajasthan, relentless rains have brought life to a grinding halt in Pali district. Over two days of continuous downpour submerged large parts of the city, flooding homes, markets, and roads with knee- to waist-deep water. Essential services such as milk, vegetables, newspapers, and medicines have been severely hit, and schools remain inaccessible. Localities including Vikas Nagar, Shekhawat Nagar, Ramdev Road, Santosh Nagar, and Rajat Nagar are among the worst affected. Many families have been forced to evacuate and take shelter with relatives. In the flooded streets, snakes have been spotted, adding to the fear and health hazards. The city recorded 94 mm of rainfall between July 14 and 15. Though district officials, including the collector, have been inspecting affected areas and deploying pumps, waterlogging persists. "This happens every year. Despite repeated complaints, there is no permanent solution to the drainage problem," said a local resident from Sundar Nagar. With more rain predicted, both eastern and western Rajasthan remain on high alert. While the loss of lives to drowning underlines the need for better public awareness and stricter enforcement, the crisis in Pali highlights the urgent need for long-term urban infrastructure planning to tackle recurring monsoon woes. Met department said a low-pressure area currently lies over south-western Bihar and adjoining parts of Uttar Pradesh and is likely to move west-northwest in the next two days. Under its influence, rainfall activity is expected to intensify in eastern Rajasthan from July 17. The department has forecast isolated heavy rainfall in Kota and Bharatpur divisions on July 17....