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Even as rain took a pause in most parts of the state on Thursday, many areas in south and central Gujarat, along with 666 roads, continued to be inundated. The government, meanwhile, said in a statement that since the beginning of monsoon, 61 people have died across the state.
Anand district’s Borsad taluka logged the maximum rainfall at 35 mm in the last 24 hours while Kutch region received up to 75 per cent of the season’s rainfall, followed by Saurashtra at 73 per cent.
Of the 206 dams in the state, 46 are overflowing, 51 have been put on high alert, 25 are over 70 per cent full and 39 dams are 25 to 50 per cent full.
According to the water resources department, 141 reservoirs of Saurashtra are filled to 50.06 per cent of their capacity. While 20 reservoirs in Kutch have 49.23 per cent of water, 13 reservoirs in south Gujarat are 46.16 per cent full. In Central Gujarat, 17 reservoirs are 35.17 per cent full and in north Gujarat, 15 reservoirs are filled till 26.59 percent of their capacity.
During the last 24 hours ending at 6 am on Thursday, Subir taluka of Dang, Nandod in Narmada, Shinor in Vadodara, Ankleshwar, Jangiya and Hansot in Bharuch, Dehgam in Gandhinagar and Mahuva in Surat have received more than 5 inches of rain. In all, 15 talukas have received four inches of rain and 21 talukas have received three inches.
Gujarat Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said that while Borsad taluka in Anand has received the maximum rainfall, at 35 mm, in the last 24 hours, Kutch region has already recorded up to 75 per cent of its season’s total rainfall.
Pandey said, “The state has received 495.75 mm of rain this season so far… That is 51 per cent of total expected rainfall. In 73 talukas, more than 500 mm rainfall has been received. Kutch and Saurashtra recorded 75 per cent and 73 per cent rainfall, respectively, while south Gujarat received 63 per cent and central Gujarat 32 per cent of rainfall. So far, North Gujarat has received 29 per cent rainfall.”
“The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam is 54.61 per cent full. Of the 206 dams in the state, 46 have overflown. About 25 dams are filled more than 70 per cent and 51 dams are on high alert… Ten rivers are overflowing,” he added.
“We have relocated 4,238 people from low-lying areas. In all, 215 people have been rescued in the last 24 hours and shifted to safer areas,” said Pandey.
The Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) is working to restore electricity in 225 villages, said Pandey. “The GUVNL is attempting to ensure that no area is without power for more than 24 hours.” He added that 666 roads, including 17 state highways and 607 panchayat roads are closed due to water overflow.
Eight persons have been killed in the last 24 hours due to lightning strike and drowning in Banaskantha, Kutch, Rajkot and Devbhumi Dwarka, Pandey said.
“So far, 61 people have died in rain-related incidents since the beginning of monsoon. The main causes of death are lightning strikes and drowning in rivers,” he added.
“Fishermen have been issued strict warning to not venture into the sea,” Pandey said.
He further said that 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 20 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed across the state.
Meanwhile, a day after Vadodara city received 13.5 inch of rain 12 hours — until 8 pm Wednesday — the city continued to remain waterlogged on Thursday, as the level of Vishwamitri River crossed the danger mark of 26 feet in six city intersections.
Although the city has received no rain since 8 pm on Wednesday, the level in Vishwamitri continued to rapidly rise throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning due to the inflow from Ajwa dam and Pratappura reservoir, which stood at 212.18 feet and 227.68 feet, respectively.
At Kala Ghoda, which is the indicator of a flood in the city, the river stood at 28.97 feet at 3 pm on Thursday. Sama and Akota saw waterlogging due to the river swelling to 32.6 feet and 32 feet, respectively. At Mujmahuda, too, the river water entered city areas after reaching a level of 30.42 feet.
Vadodara Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Rana said the civic body has moved 3,000 people from low-lying areas, where Vishwamitri water had flooded settlements.
“Vishwamitri is flowing at 29 feet, nearly 4 feet above the danger mark. Since rain has stopped in the city and on the upstream since yesterday (Wednesday) night, the water level will likely recede eventually. However, as a precautionary measure, we have alerted people living near the river bank and shifted nearly 3,000 people to safer places,” said Rana.
After heavy rain battered Vadodara on Wednesday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed relief and rescue operations in the city and district through videoconferencing on Thursday. The CM was informed that Vadodara city received close to 14 inch (nearly 355 mm) of rain on Wednesday, which resulted in waterlogging in many parts of the city, said a government statement.
Water, meanwhile, has started receding from parts of Surat and 955 people have started returning from shelter homes. Due to waterlogging and overflow of creek water, several areas in Surat city such as Udhna, Limbayat, Sarthana and Sachin were flooded.
A woman and her 9-year-old son were killed after a wall of their kutcha house collapsed in Sabarkantha district on Thursday.
The police identified the deceased as Shilpa Parmar (35) and her son Krish.“An inside wall of mud collapsed, as it had apparently become weak due to the rain,” said Inspector V R Chauhan of Gambhoi police station.
“We have registered a case of accidental death and started a probe,” Chauhan added. PTI
Surat: Ganpat Vasava, Mangrol MLA in Surat district, who along with others was on a visit to meet the stranded people in Luvara village got stuck in the floodwater in Limbada village. Both villages fall under Mangrol taluka.
On their way, the BJP leader and over 20 others including police personnel who were travelling with him got stranded in the floodwater in Limbada village. A team of the National Disaster Response Force that was nearby rescued the MLA and others after an alert was passed to the district administration.
Vasava said, “We went to the flood-affected areas to distribute food packets and rescue them. But we were trapped in the waters and could not move further. The NDRF rescued us and took us to safer places. ENS
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