Vadodara: Atleast 15 people died, more than 20,000 were evacuated and over 300 rescued in different districts of Gujarat as heavy showers continued to lash the state.
The details of the deceased has been shared by the Gujarat government, at least one person died in Morbi, Vadodara, Kheda, Bharuch and Ahmedabad districts. While two people died in the Gandhinagar and Mahisagar districts and six people died in Anand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to get details of the heavy rain situation in the states and relief and rescue operations. Sharing the information, Patel wrote on X, “He [PM Modi] provided guidance on the protection of lives and livestock of citizens. Also, Gujarat was assured of providing all necessary support and assistance from the Central Government. The Prime Minister is constantly monitoring the situation by worrying about Gujarat.”
The residents in affected areas, particularly in the Saurashtra region, have been advised to avoid waterlogged zones. In Vadodara, power outages have occurred in some regions due to flooding. As a precautionary measure, local authorities have announced the closure of schools and colleges on Tuesday to ensure the safety of students.
As rains continue to wreak havoc in Gujarat, several areas got flooded, disrupting normal life. Private and public transport, including buses and trains, have been severely affected by incessant rains. The railway tracks in several areas were completely inundated leading to the cancellation of trains. Due to the severe waterlogging in the Vadodara division, the railway has cancelled 75 short and long-distance trains.
The India Meteorological Department had put Gujarat on red alert for extreme rainfall till August 30.
To expedite rescue and relief efforts, the Gujarat government has requested six Indian Army columns to be stationed in Dwarka, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Morbi, and Rajkot districts.
Additionally, 14 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) platoons and 22 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed to assist with disaster management.
