Rain plays havoc in Gujarat, Rajasthan
new delhi — Hundreds of people were marooned in several inundated regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan on Wednesday even as heavy rains in other parts of the country flooded streets, choked traffic and hit normal life.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi carried out an aerial survey of the worst-hit Banaskantha and Patan districts in his home state where Army, IAF, NDRF and local teams have intensified rescue and relief operations.
The prime minister also and chaired a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Patel and top officials of the state government to take stock of the situation.
During the last 24 hours, at least 12 talukas of Banaskantha, Patan and Sabarkantha districts received over 200mm of rainfall, a release issued by the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) said.
Dantiwada in Banaskantha remained the worst-hit recording 463mm rainfall, followed by Palanpur (380mm), Vadgam (357mm), Amirgadh (337mm) and Lakhani (305mm).
More than 1,000 people have been rescued and 46,000 people shifted to safer locations from low lying areas of the state, deputy chief minister Nitin Patel said.
In Rajasthan, rescue operations are being carried out in flood-hit Jalore, Sirohi and Pali districts.
Nineteen people were rescued from Jalore including seven who had taken shelter on a tree to escape the swirling waters.
Odisha is also bracing for floods with three of the state’s major rivers flowing above the danger mark. Heavy rainfall is likely to pound several parts of the state due the low pressure area persisting over in the region.
Authorities in Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts have stepped up their preparedness for rescue-andrelief operations while the situation in Balasore district is also being monitored. The weather improved in Bengal on Wednesday with no heavy rain in most parts since Tuesday night. —