3 dead as flood-like situation prevails in parts of Saurashtra

Ahmedabad, July 22

Incessant rains in some districts of Saurasthra in Gujarat have led to a flood-like situation in the region, leaving three people dead, the state government said on Saturday.

The highest rainfall of 350 mm in the last 24 hours was recorded in Chotila of Surendranagar district.

According to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, the weather department has given a warning of heavy rain for the next 48 hours and state administration has been asked to remain alert.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Air Force (IAF) and teams of other agencies have been pressed into service and they have so far rescued 214 stranded people. More than 6,200 people in the region have been shifted to safer places.

Ten state highways and many roads have also been damaged.

Rupani on Saturday held a review meeting with the government officials at the state disaster control room in Gandhinagar and took stock of the situation and the rescue operations.

“Surendranagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Amreli, Junagadh, Gir and Somnath districts in Saurashtra region have received heavy rain in the last 24 hours. Ahmedabad and other parts of North Gujarat till Mandal are witnessing heavy rain since this morning,” the chief minister told reporters.

Vadodara and parts of central Gujarat received good rain last night, he said.

The highest rainfall of 350 mm was recorded in Chotila of Surendranagar district, while Vadia in Amreli district received over 250 mm rainfall, he added.

“Three people have died due to drowning in the last 24 hours,” Rupani said.

While one of them died in Rajkot, the details regarding the two other deceased were yet to be known.

The NDRF, IAF and state rescue teams have so far rescued 214 people, stranded at different places, Rupani said, adding that 6,235 people had been shifted to safer places from low-lying areas near rivers and dams.

“Ten state highways and 65 roads have been damaged due to the rain. Work is on to restore roads,” he said.

Rajkot-Ahmedabad national highway has also been closed due to water-logging, which led to traffic jams.

“We have instructed district administrations to be alert and all help is being provided to the people affected by heavy rain,” Rupani said.

Heavy rain has thrown life out of gear in many parts of the state.

Rajkot district collector Vikrant Pandey said one person drowned in rain water in Jasdan town in the district.

“Over 700 people have been shifted to safer places. The NDRF team has rescued over 16 people, who were stranded in flood waters in various parts of the district,” he said.

Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) Commissioner BN Pani said a two-storey building located in Hathikhana area of the city collapsed, but no causality was reported.

“The city received over 72 mm of rainfall as Lalpari reservoir has overflowed and nearly 60 people living in the surrounding areas have been shifted to safer places,” Pani said.

Surendranagar is the worst-affected district in the Saurashtra region. The NDRF team has rescued over 15 people in the town.

“Dharoi dam in Chotila has overflowed, prompting the authorities to close Rajkot-Ahmedabad national highway as the rain water has flooded the road,” Surendranagar flood control room said.

Catchment areas of most dams and reservoirs in Saurashtra region received good amount of rain water.

Heavy rain also continued to lash Ahmedabad and the city received over 100 mm of rainfall since Friday night. Water-logging was observed in several low-lying areas of the city. PTI