The Hindu Business Line : Rains claim 52 lives in Maharashtra; flood alert in Gujarat

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Rains claim 52 lives in Maharashtra; flood alert in Gujarat

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Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Aug. 7

Heavy rains claimed 52 lives and more than one lakh people were shifted to safe places following floods triggered by rains in Marathwada region of Maharashtra over the last 48 hours. The authorities have put on high alert 178 villages on the banks of Godavari, which has crossed the danger mark, said Ms Manisha Patankar Mhaiskar, spokesperson, Maharashtra Government.

The help of the Army, Navy and the Air Force is being taken to evacuate 1.05 lakh people in 79 flood-affected tehsils in the State. The situation in the worst hit Nanded district is expected to improve as Andhra Pradesh had started releasing three lakh cusecs of water from the Pochnad dam near the Nanded border.

Meanwhile in Mumbai, continuous rainfall since Sunday morning has thrown life out of gear once again. Mumbai's train services are running 10 minutes behind schedule due to heavy downpour.

Surat flooded

The Gujarat Government today sounded flood alert in Surat, Bharuch, Navsari and Vadodara districts and urged the armed forces to stand by to assist civilian authorities in relief and rescue operations.

There have been no confirmed reports of any fresh loss of life or property during the last 24 hours.

Official sources said that 50,000 people had been shifted to safer places from low-lying areas of Surat and NH 8 has been declared out of bounds between Bharuch and Navsari for all but emergency road traffic.

By afternoon today, several streets in Surat were flooded and authorities warned of heavy rains during the next 36 hours. More people would be shifted to safe areas as and when required, the officials said.

Meanwhile, five columns of the Army have been deployed in southern Gujarat and four IAF helicopters and 70 motorboats have been pressed into service.

The Narmada is in spate with eight-metre waves breaking at the site of the Sardar Sarovar dam in Bharuch district.

So far, rain and related incidents have claimed nearly 30 lives in Gujarat this year, according to reports.

Damage suffered by agriculture, industry and business is yet to be assessed.