Ahmedabad: Heavy downpour continued to paralyse several areas of Gujarat for the third successive day on Friday. Several villages have been cut-off affecting
normal life in the state. As per officials, while 38,000 people have been relocated to safer areas, nearly 352 people have been rescued .
According to the IMD, more than 400 mm rainfall have been recorded in last 24 hours in some districts of the state . While National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Army have swung into action, schools have been shut. Authorities have also cancelled Mumbai-bound trains.
Valsad, Navsari recorded very heavy rainfall
Notably, districts like Valsad, Navsari and Surat, Ahmedabad and Kheda recorded very heavy rainfall in last in 24 hours till 6 am on Friday morning. Districts like av-Tharad, Amreli and Kheda also received fresh rainfall this morning.
“As many as 38,000 people have been relocated so far, primarily from the Navsari and Valsad districts. Most of these people have moved to their relatives’ homes, while approximately 2,000 have been shifted to shelter homes. A total of 352 people have been rescued so far,” news agency PTI quoted Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana as saying. He added that one death has been officially reported in Tapi.
Thousands affected across districts
Officials further said that a total of 35 talukas witnessed over 200 mm of rain in last 24 hours. Thousands of people have been affected in Valsad, Navsari, Ahmedabad, Kheda and Dangs. While they were shifted to safer places, and hundreds have been rescued by the authorities. In Ahmedabad, roads became inaccessible, due to which dozen of underpasses have been closed. As flood situations continued across Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel asked the officials to remain on high alert.
The IMD has also issued a red alert for Mahisanagar, Panchmahal and Dahod, and an orange alert for several districts including Valsad, Tapi, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Kheda, Gandhinagar and Anand.
