4 more die, over 6,300 evacuated in last 24 hours: Flood-like situation in parts of Saurashtra, Army called in

Meanwhile, over 6370 people were evacuated to safer places from rain-hit areas. Army personnel rescued 35 people, including a 3-day-old infant, stranded near Godara river in Kuda village of Dhrangadhra. “After receiving requisition from the state government on Saturday afternoon, Army mobilised one column (about 80-100 personnel) of troops along with a medical team and one engineer task force, carrying specialised equipment, to help the ongoing rescue and relief work in the worst flood-affected district of Surendranagar,” said Defence Spokesperson Wing Commander Abhishek Matiman. The Army is also distributing food and medicines in the area.

Four MI-17V5 helicopters of the IAF have been pressed in for rescue operations. At least 12 people were airlifted — 11 from a rooftop in Malia Miyana village of Morbi district. A helicopter was also called in to rescue people from three villages of Limbdi, Sayla and Chotila talukas of Surendranagar district.

The IAF helicopter rescued a person who was stranded atop a marooned dargah in Limbdi taluka. “As reports last came in, three helicopters are currently engaged in the ongoing rescue missions at various locations. We have also received a request from Dhandhuka area of Ahmedabad where 70 people are stranded,” Matiman added. Among those evacuated, 2,620 belonged to Morbi district where Maachu dam overflowed. Another 2,245 were evacuated from Pipadiyad, Miyava, Dharadungari, Chotila, Untadi and other villages in neighbouring Surendranagar district in operations that began late Friday night. Another 250 people were evacuated in Rajkot.

Meanwhile, 95 roads, including two national highways, had to be closed for the traffic as they were either water-logged or washed away in the heavy rain. Traffic on Ahmedabad-Rajkot, Dhandhuka-Limbdi, and Samakhiyali-Morbi highways was affected. State transport bus temporarily discontinued on 17 routes, including Rajkot-Bhuj, Limbdi-Botad, Limbdi-Gadhda, Limbdi-Ranpur, Rajkot- Amdavad and Chotila-Jasdan. Waterlogging led to a break in train services in the Samakhyali-Maliya Miyana-Wakaner-Surendranagar-Viramgam section. Electricity supply to 294 villages was also cut off.

In Desar in Vadodara district, one man was injured when a house collapsed. District Collector P Bharati said, “So far no villages have been put on an alert.” Panchmahal District Collector S K Langa said that villages around Hadaf irrigation scheme have been put on alert.

Surat and south Gujarat districts also witnessed heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours. While Surat city received 25 mm of rainfall, Kamrej taluka recorded 150 mm. No casualty was reported from the area. The water level in Ukai dam reached up to 308 feet against the danger level of 345 feet.

Heavy rainfall was also reported in Navsari district, which received over 60 mm rain. Valsad town recorded 27 mm of rainfall. The Met department has warned of more rainfall.