Floods claim 128 lives in Gujarat

80k evacuated, 200 villages without power, 945 roads damaged

The total number of people shifted to safety in flood ravaged Gujarat reached around 80,000, with more than 3590 persons shifted in last 24 hours. The total death toll in the floods was at 128, with 49 in Banaskantha alone. The figures were presented at a review meeting of revenue minister and top department officials in Gandhinagar on Friday.

Though more half of them have been sent back home as waters recede across most parts of the state. The number of rescued, meanwhile, was at 12,978 persons, of which 825 were airlifted. A total of 10.5 lakh food packets have been distributed in two worst affected North Gujarat districts of Patan and Banaskantha.

As many as 200 villages were still without electricity, even as 945 roads still remained difficult for vehicular traffic, including five national highways and 31 state highways.

A total of 22 NDRF teams, 13 teams of Indian Air Force, nine columns of Army, 11 teams of SDRF, nine from BSF as well as local administration, fire brigade and police were pressed in to rescue operations.

While the rains took a breather in Central and North Gujarat, some places in South Gujarat received between 4inches to 12 inches of rain in last 24 hours, with Dharampur district recording 12 inches of rain.

Among the major urban centers, Valsad received high of 241 mm of rains till 5.30 pm on Friday evening, with most of the other centers seeing little rains. Surat in South Gujarat saw 41 mm of rains, while Ahmedabad, that was lashed by rains on Thursday, saw 37.1 mm of rains in last 24 hours, while Gandhinagar clocked 25 mm of rains. Both these cities had received 7.5 inches and 7 inches of rain on Thursday.

Of the 203 reservoirs, 34 were full to their capacity, while 39 were filled between 70%-99% of their water storage capacity.

Meanwhile, the Met department has predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in the lower Narmada, lower Tapi and Damanganga basins in South Gujarat. The river levels in the districts of Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch, Surat, Valsad and Navasari in South Gujarat are likely to increase.

The catchments of Mahi and Sabarmati too are likely to receive very heavy rainfall, leading to rising river water levels in the districts of Sabarkanta, Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Panchmahal, Mahisagar and Kheda districts of Gujarat.

The department has cautioned strict vigilance in reservoirs like Kadana, Dharoi, Dantiwada.