Gujarat: Situation grim in state, flood in many villages

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In Gondal taluka of Rajkot district, 10 villages were cut off by flood waters, said district collector Manisha Chandra. Three teams of NDRF were deployed in Gondal, she said.

Western Railway PRO said that due to water logging on tracks near Gondal, trains on that line were affected. “The deep depression over Saurashtra and adjoining Gujarat region persists,” MET department said in its forecast. The system is likely to become weak by Friday.

A man struggles with his umbrella in Vadodara.

Besides IAF and Navy, a team of NDRF, consisting of 70 members, and four platoons of SRP were involved in the relief and rescue operations in Amreli. Two Mi-17 V5 helicopters from Jamnagar base were sent to the district after its collector sought help from the state government.

The choppers carried out the operation for over four hours at the affected 12 villages in Amreli, and airlifted 85 stranded people, besides dropping food packets.

A caved-in road in Surat.

Defence spokesperson Wing Commander Abhishek Matiman said, “The Mi 17-V5 choppers have been kept on a stand-by for further operations too in coastal districts. The IAF, Navy and Coast Guard are on stand-by for rescue operations. The Coast Guard and Navy have intensified their watch at the coast and affected districts for any disaster response.”

In Rajkot, the district collector said that around 4,000 people were evacuated to safer places from 17 villages located on the banks of river Bhadar downstream Bhadar dam.

Following very heavy rain, all 29 gates of Bhadar dam, the largest dam in the region, were opened. There was inflow of fresh water in Aji and Nyari dams.

Rawal and Ozat dams in Junagadh were also overflowing.

Heavy rain was reported from Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Dwarka, Botad and Surendranagar districts also.