Two dead, hundreds evacuated as rains batter Gujarat

Incessant rains in past few days followed by swelling of rivers and flooding in many parts of the State, threw normal life out of gear in Gujarat.

On Saturday morning, an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter, MI-17V5 was deployed in Surendranagar district to rescue people from villages in Limbdi, Sayla and Chotila talukas, which were submerged in the flooding post heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Civil administration raised a request to the IAF to rescue the stranded people. Responding to the request, an MI-17V5 helicopter of the IAF took to the skies braving the adverse weather conditions and heavy downpour in the area.

District authorities confirmed total 104 persons rescued involving multiple agencies including NDRF, SDRF, IAF and local administration. Around 2,245 people were evacuated from flood-affected areas and shifted to safer locations. From across the state, 6,000 were evacuated from the low lying areas, while two deaths were reported.

According to State Emergency Operation Centre, the state has received nearly 46 per cent of its average monsoon rainfall of 810 mm till July 21. Surendranagar, Morbi, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot and Kutch districts received rainfall in the range of 110 per cent to 64 per cent of the season's average.

Saurashtra region which witnessed a heavy flooding after water levels swelling in several rivers is the most affected. National Highway-8 connecting Ahmedabad and Rajkot had to be closed due to over-topping of water from the fields. The highway connecting Kutch and Saurashtra between Samakhiyali and Morbi, too had to be closed. The routes of several state transport buses were either suspended or diverted as many state highways continued to be submerged in the flood-waters.

In Rajkot district, food packets were distributed to the flood-affected families at Jasdan by the district administration.

According to water supply department, out of the 203 reservoirs in the state, 28 have been put under High alert, while nine dams were put on Alert and warnings were issued for 10 dams.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued forecast of Light to moderate rain or thundershowers very likely at most places in the districts of Gujarat region, Saurashtra, Kutch and in Diu, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli till the morning of July 27.

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