Gujarat rains: 28 deaths since Sunday, Vadodara still under water

More than 27,000 people were evacuated from flood-affected areas so far; PM Modi speaks to CM Patel to stock of the situation

Gujarat’s death toll in rain-related incidents since Sunday reached 28 on Wednesday (August 28, 2024) amidst unprecedented flooding and waterlogging in Vadodara city, Jamnagar city and parts of Devbhumi Dwarka district.

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The deceased included seven persons who went missing after the tractor trolley they were in was swept away while crossing an overflowing causeway near Dhavana village under Halvad taluka of Morbi district on Sunday. Their bodies were recovered on Wednesday evening.

More than 27,000 people were evacuated from flood-affected areas as heavy showers lashed parts of the State for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday.

Vadodara inundated

Meanwhile, even after the rains thinned out, Vadodara city grappled with massive flooding in a large swathe of low-lying areas after the Vishwamitri river breached its banks and entered dozens of residential localities; there was massive damage with many buildings, streets and roads and vehicles inundated.

Also Read: Eight killed in rain-related incidents; Narmada river crosses danger mark

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel rushed two senior Ministers to oversee the relief works in the city. Accordingly, Rushikesh Patel and Jagdish Panchal were now camped in Vadodara where two extra columns of the army were also deployed, along with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams. People stranded in their houses and on rooftops in Vadodara were rescued and relocated to safer places these teams.

Gujarat’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel told media persons that over 5,000 people have been evacuated and another 1,200 rescued so far in Vadodara.

Watch: Parts of State inundated; Amit Shah assures Central assistance to State CM, HM

The Chief Minister directed authorities to deploy cleaning equipment and spray disinfectants in Vadodara as soon as flood water started receding. He directed that teams from municipal corporations of Ahmedabad, Surat, and municipalities of Bharuch and Anand be deployed in Vadodara for the purpose.

Amid the flood-like situation prevailing in several parts of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Mr. Patel over the phone to take stock of the situation and assured the Centre’s support.

So far, the Centre has allotted seven columns of army personnel and extra teams of NDRF to deal with floods.

Big hit to Saurashtra region

The rain took a pause in central and north Gujarat regions but districts in the Saurashtra region such as Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Porbandar witnessed exceptionally high rains between 50mm and 200 mm in the 12-hour period ending at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. In Devbhumi Dwarka, Khambhalia taluka got 454 mm, the highest in the State; followed by Jamnagar (387 mm), Jamjodhpur taluka in Jamnagar (329 mm) and Bhanvad taluka (185 mm).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast extremely heavy rains in isolated parts of the region on Thursday.

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.

High alert

With the latest spell, Gujarat has so far received 105% of its average annual rainfall, the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) said in a statement.

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 mark. Out of 206 dams, 122 were put on high alert due to sharp rise in their water levels, said the release.

With roads and railway lines flooded, movement of traffic and trains was also disrupted. As many as 48 trains were cancelled, 14 partially cancelled, and six short-terminated. Another 23 trains were diverted to alternative routes, the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad division said.