Rain news in Gujarat: As the incessant rains stopped in Gujarat on Wednesday, nearly 24,000 out of more than 31,000 people were taken to safer places and started returning home. Disaster Management Minister Rajendra Trivedi said that with the death of 14 people in 24 hours till Wednesday morning in rain-related incidents, the death toll in such incidents has gone up to 31 since July 7.
No casualties were reported later in the day, officials said. The state government has directed the district collectors to expedite the payment of compensation to the next of kin of those killed in rain-related accidents.
In a related development, National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu’s scheduled visit to Gujarat on Wednesday was postponed in view of the rain conditions. Heavy rains in the past few days had thrown normal life out of gear in south and central Gujarat and Saurashtra-Kutch regions, leading to flood-like conditions in several rivers in low-lying areas.
Trivedi told reporters that out of 31,035 people evacuated from the flood-affected areas, 23,945 have returned home, while the rest are still in shelters provided by the government.
The minister said compensation of Rs 4 lakh has been given to those who died due to natural calamities and the district authorities have been asked to expedite the payment of compensation to the remaining families.
The State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) said between 12 noon to 6 pm on Wednesday, some districts of south and central Gujarat and Saurashtra received 100 to 184 mm of rain.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places in South Gujarat and Saurashtra districts like Dang, Navsari, Valsad and Gir Somnath in the next two days.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the situation in the rain-hit districts of Junagadh, Gir Somnath in Saurashtra region and Navsari, Dang and Valsad in south Gujarat, his office said.
Patel’s office said the chief minister directed the administration to immediately stop the movement of people on the flooded roads and causeways and coordinate rescue and relief operations with teams of National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force.
According to the IMD, during the 24 hours ended Wednesday morning, rain occurred at most places in South Gujarat and Saurashtra-Kutch region and at many places in North Gujarat region.
It said that Bharuch and Kutch districts recorded extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places, and Aravalli, Dang, Navsari, Vadodara, Tapi and Surat and Kutch districts recorded very heavy rainfall.
Earlier in the morning, Minister Trivedi had said that three national highways in Kutch, Navsari and Dang districts have been blocked, while 51 state highways and over 400 rural roads have also been damaged due to the damage caused by the rains.
Between 6 am and 10 am, parts of Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Dang and Amreli districts received rainfall ranging between 47 mm and 88 mm. The water level of various reservoirs has also increased due to heavy rains. At least 30 reservoirs now hold 70 per cent or more of the water reserves. According to Trivedi, the state’s largest Sardar Sarovar Dam is 48 per cent full.
(with inputs from PTI)
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