VADODARA, July 7: Heavy rain struck at least 700 telephones dead in city, and paralysed normal life in the rural district on Tuesday.No casualties were reported from any part of the State as the official toll stood at 11 while unofficial sources put it at 32.Vehicular traffic was severely affected in the city with several areas, specially older parts of the walled city such as Station and bus-stand areas, Sayajigunj, Dandia Bazar, Ajwa road, Waghodia road, Pratap Nagar and Raopura, remaining waterlogged for the past 24 hours.Though air and rail traffic was normal, over 700 telephones went dead due to cable faults, triggered by the heavy downpour the previous day.Telecom officials said the faults were detected on Tuesday in an 800-pair cable in Alkapuri and 400-pair cable in Nyayamandir. Over 400 phones in Old Padra Road, Atladara road and Tandelji road were rendered non-functional, while 300 went out of order at the Padmavati Shopping Centre area and Mangal Bazar.The department said repairs at the Nyayamandir area were under progress and the connections were likely to be restored by Thursday.Gusty winds blowing at 20 kmph uprooted trees in Alkapuri Circuit House, GIDC, Gorwa, Dinesh Mill, Ajwa and Jetalpur road areas. A tragedy was averted with a timely action by the fire brigade in a slum in Gorwa. According to officials, a boy had jumped to save a goat from drowning. While the animal died, he was rescued by brigade divers.In the rural district, Karjan taluka recorded 147 mm, followed by Jetpurpavi 24 mm, Dabhoi, 60 mm, Chhotaudepur 5 mm, Waghodia 33 mm, Sinnor 59 mm, Sankheda, 38 mm, Naswadi 49 mm, Padra 16 mm, Savli 7 mm and Kwant, 13 mm. The major dams had water level quite below the danger mark, according to officials. The rainfall averaged 100 mm in Nandod and Tilakwada talukas of neighbouring Narmada district, Bharuch, Amod, Vagra, Jambusar, Ankleshwar, Hansot, Jhaghadia and Valia talukas of Bharuch recorded 89 mm, 60 mm, 27 mm.
