Rain fury continued on Thursday in Gujarat. More than 19 people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in different parts of state, taking the death count to 26 in four days. Around 17,800 people were evacuated from flood-affected areas as heavy showers battered several parts of the state for the fourth consecutive day.
Seven killed after tractor trolley swept away
Seven persons, who went missing after the tractor trolley they were travelling in was swept away while crossing an overflowing causeway near Dhavana village under Halvad taluka of Morbi district on Sunday, were found dead.
Floods in Vadodara
Even as rains took a pause in Vadodara, it grappled with flooding in a large swathe of low-lying areas after the Vishwamitri river, flowing through the city, breached its banks and entered residential localities, inundating buildings, roads and vehicles.
Heavy rains batter Saurashtra region
On Wednesday, districts in the Saurashtra region such as Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Porbandar received between 50mm and 200 mm rains in 12-hour period ended 6 pm. Bhanvad taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district received 185 mm rainfall during this period, the highest in the state.
Extremely heavy rains likely in Saurashtra region today: IMD
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast of extremely heavy rains in isolated parts of districts in Saurashtra on Thursday.
People stranded in their houses and rooftops in Vadodara city were rescued and relocated to safer places by teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), its state counterpart SDRF and three columns of the Army deployed for the purpose, officials said.
PM Modi speaks to CM Patel
Amid the flood-like situation prevailing in several parts of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to take stock of the situation and assured the Centre's support to the state in tackling the natural disaster.
In a post on X, CM Patel said, "Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modiji had a telephonic conversation with me about the heavy rain situation in Gujarat and gathered details of the relief and rescue operations."
PM Modi provided guidance on protection of lives and livestock, and assured all necessary support and assistance from the central government, he said.
"Hon'ble Prime Minister is constantly monitoring the situation by showing concern about Gujarat. He has a deep affection for the people of Gujarat. During natural calamities and whenever needed, he always stands by Gujarat and the people of the state," the CM added.
Minister Rushikesh Patel told mediapersons that over 5,000 people were evacuated and another 1,200 rescued so far in Vadodara. Three additional columns of the Army, and one each of the NDRF and the SDRF, were deployed in the city on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Patel directed authorities to deploy cleaning equipment and spray disinfectants in Vadodara city as soon as flood water starts receding. He directed that teams from municipal corporations of Ahmedabad and Surat, and municipalities of Bharuch and Anand be deployed in Vadodara for the purpose.
The CM ordered the deployment of five additional teams of the NDRF and four Army columns to assist the administration in rescue and relief operations in Vadodara. Additional rescue boats should also be sent from Ahmedabad and Surat to the flood-affected city, he said.
Apart from the NDRF and the SDRF, the Army, the Indian Air Force and the Coast Guard were carrying out rescue and relief operations in rain-ravaged parts, with around 17,800 people relocated and another 2,000 rescued so far, officials said.
As many as 26 persons have died in rain-related incidents in the last three days. These deaths were reported from Rajkot, Anand, Mahisagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Morbi, Junagadh and Bharuch districts.
At least nine persons died in rain-related incidents, such as collapse of walls and drowning, in different parts of the state on Tuesday, an official release said.
On Monday, seven persons died in similar incidents in the state. On Wednesday, three members of a family drowned after their car got swept away in flood waters in Rajkot, police said.
Rescue teams found seven bodies of people who had gone missing after the tractor trolley on which they were travelling was swept away while crossing an overflowing causeway near Dhavana village of Morbi district on Sunday, SP Rahul Tripathi said.
Three of these bodies were found on Tuesday and four on Wednesday, said Morbi fire officer Devendrasinh Jadeja, adding one person was still missing.
Several Saurashtra districts, especially Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar and Rajkot, experienced very heavy rainfall in 24-hour period ended 6 am on Wednesday, SEOC data showed.
Khambhalia taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district got 454 mm rainfall during this period, followed by Jamnagar city (387 mm), and Jamjodhpur taluka in Jamnagar (329 mm).
As many as 13 out of the state's 251 talukas received more than 200 mm rainfall, and another 39 over 100 mm showers during this period.
As per an official release, 140 reservoirs and dams, and 24 rivers in the state were flowing above the danger marks. Rains also disrupted the movement of traffic and trains as roads and railway lines were flooded. As many as 48 trains were cancelled, 14 partially annulled, and 6 short-terminated. Another 23 trains were diverted to alternative routes, the Western Railway's Ahmedabad division said.
(With PTI inputs)
Also read: Delhi rains: Heavy rainfall causes waterlogging, traffic jams in several areas
