27 dead in Saurashtra and Kutch region in rain-related incidents, toll now 36

A deep depression, which had originated in the Bay of Bengal, had moved to Gujarat and caused widespread rainfall in central Gujarat and Saurashtra between August 25 and 30. By August 28, 35 people had died from across the state as the torrential rain triggered flash flood.

On Saturday, officials said the deluge left 27 dead in Morbi, Jamnagar, Kutch, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Devbhumi Dwarka — the six worst-affected districts in Saurashtra and Kutch.

Officials in the Jamnagar district disaster control room said that since the rain started on Monday, four persons died in Jamnagar city and three in rural areas. Similarly, eight persons died in Morbi district, five in Kutch, four in Rajkot, two in Surendranagar and one in Devbhumi Dwarka districts. Most died due to drowning after being swept away in floodwaters.

The latest death was reported on Saturday afternoon when the body of Sandeepsinh Ker – a resident of Thavariya village in Jamnagar taluka – who had been swept away in floodwaters on Tuesday, was found, said Mahendra Chavda, mamlatdar in charge of the disaster control branch in the office of Jamnagar collector.

Chavda added that three deaths were reported on Tuesday – Rajesh Pedhadiya (45), a resident of Latipur village in Dhrol; farmer Parbat Pathar (55) from Zinavari village in Jamjodhpur who was swept away in Vartu river and Kanaksinh Jadeja (46), a resident of Jamnagar city, who was also swept away in floodwaters.

Three more deaths were reported from Jamnagar city on Thursday when Raj Maru (14), Pradippari Goswami (46) and his son Shubhampari Goswami (11) drowned after being trapped in floodwaters. “Officially, no one is reported missing in the district now,” Chavda said.
Officials said that 514 cattle deaths were reported in the district till Saturday and a survey is on to assess the extent of loss of livestock.

Morbi Collector K B Zaveri said that the body of one of the eight persons, who had gone missing after the tractor-trailer they were travelling in was swept away in a flooded Kankavati river on August 25 at Dhavan village in Halvad, was recovered on Friday. “With that, all the eight persons who had been swept away have been found dead,” he added.

The eight have been identified as Ashwin Rathod (28), Geeta Barot (16) and her two brothers Vijay (19) and Ashish (12), Rajuben Barot (45), Jinal Barot (6), Janki Makwana (32) and Ramdev Makwana.

In Kutch, five men died in four incidents of drowning. While Bhupendrasinh Rathod drowned in floodwaters at Faradi village in Mandvi taluka of Kutch on Monday, Kanu Nayak (41) and Thakor Ravjibhai Parmar (32) were swept away in a river in Vadva Kanyavala village in Nakhatra. The same day, Jaydeep Baradiya (32) was swept away in floodwaters at Lakhond village in Kutch’s Bhuj. On Thursday, Munilal Shah was killed after being trapped in floodwaters at Mota Kandagra village of Mundra.

In Rajkot, four persons were killed in two incidents. Jayesh Radadiya (40), his wife Sonal (39) and their son Dharmesh (6) had gone missing after their car was swept away in a river at Moti Khilori village in Gondal on Wednesday. While the couple’s bodies were found the same day, the boy was found dead on Friday. Agricultural labourer Udsang Soma Rathod, who had gone missing on Monday, after being swept away in Bhadar river at Loth village in Rajkot’s Upleta, was found dead on Friday.

In Surendranagar, Dhanabhai Vitthalpara (50) and Dhanji Akhiyani (45) were killed on Tuesday after they drowned in floodwaters in Kondh and Vasadva villages, respectively, at Drangadhra taluka. In Devbhumi Dwarka, agricultural labourer Bhikhlibai Undariya (32) died on Wednesday when a tree fell on her in Gunda village of Bhanvada taluka.

As per a statement issued by state government-owned power distribution company Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) on Saturday evening, electricity supply to 276 villages in three districts of Saurashtra and Kutch remained disrupted. Six villages in PGVCL’s Jamnagar circle, which distributes power in Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, were without power. Similarly, 270 villages in PGVCL’s Bhuj circle, which distributes power in Kutch district, were without electricity, the company said in a release.