17 of family among 33 killed in Guj
DELUGE Authorities put coastal and lowlying areas in state on alert as heavy rains are expected over next 24 hours
As many as 33 people, including 17 members of a family, have died in flood-affected Gujarat in the past 48 hours.
With the latest deaths, the toll since the onset of monsoon this year is likely to cross 100.
In a tragic incident, almost an entire family at Khariya village in Banaskanth of North Gujarat drowned on Wednesday. Locals recovered their bodies when water from the Banas river started receding after rains ceased. Dasaji Thakor was the only survivor from the ill-fated family. The deceased include his six brothers and their families.
“Bodies of 17 people of Thakor family were brought in a tractor by villagers to the civil hospital. The post-mortem will be conducted’’, said police.
“According to reports, the family had taken shelter on the terrace amid heavy water logging due to flood in Banas river. But on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday the water level rose even above the terrace level and the family was drowned,’’ they added.
Preliminary reports also suggest even the Narmada canal, which passes through the village, was flooded, leading to very heavy water logging.
“Several thousands were shifted to safer places. But water level rose over 10 to 15 feet in the some parts. And, this particular family was residing in an agricultural field’’, said revenue minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma.
The government pegged the total death toll this monsoon season at 94 on Wednesday (excluding the latest deaths).
Over 53,000 people have been shifted to safer places between July 21 and 26.
Police sources maintained that toll is likely to rise as several people are still missing.
With heavy downpour expected to continue in the state over the next 24 hours, especially in Saurashtra-Kutch region, coastal and low-lying areas have been put on alert.