Three killed in Vadodara as rains lash Gujarat

Vadodara, Aug 12 (UNI) At least three people were killed and 10 others injured in Vadodara district as heavy rains continued to lash Gujarat for the second consecutive day today, forcing about 2000 people to move to safer places in the district and 700 people were rendered homeless as flood waters entered Jambughoda town.

The district authorities in the city also sounded a flood alert in due to release of rain water from the Dev dam into the Vishwamitri river passing through the heart of the city. The water level in the Vishwamitri today reached 25 ft as against its danger level of 28 ft, and was expected to cross its red mark tomorrow morning.

Expressing concern over the possible floods in the Vishwamitri, district collector Vijay Nehra said the authorities had no option but to release Dev river water into the Vishwamitri as the former was flowing just one metre below the danger mark.

Claiming that all precautionary measures had been taken to tackle the situation, Mr Nehra appealed to the people living along the bank of the Vishwamitri and Dev rivers to move to safer places.

Meanwhile, the authorities had evacuated nearly 1700 people living in low-lying areas in the city and another 300 in Sankheda and Padra talukas after their houses were submerged under rain water.

According to flood control room sources, Dabhoi, Padra and Pavi-Jetpur talukas have reported one death each in rain-related incidents. Reports said while one Bhailal Gordhan was killed and another injured in a wall collapse at Daloli village in Padra taluka, Sakir Hussain (20) was electrocuted at Dabhoi.

In Pavi-Jetpur, police recovered the body of one Gopalbhai, a jeep driver, who was swept away after his vehicle fell into a swelling nullah yesterday at Bhimapura village. Five people were also reportedly injured when a wall collapsed at Danteswar in the city this evening.

In Vadodara city, life came to a standstill today following incessant rains throughout the day. As most parts of the city, including markets and commercial establishments were flooded with rain water, all educational institutions remained closed. Vehicular traffic also disrupted. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at bus depots here as bus services to and from Vadodara were seriously affected following inundation of state highways at several places.

Vadodara city recorded 200 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours, Padras 226 mm, Waghodia 210 mm and Savli recorded 222 mm rain during the period.

The Union territory of Daman was cut off from the rest of the country due to snapping of telecommunication network and breakdown of transport services due to the heavy rains.

(editors: pl pick up suitably from 'weather-guj lead rain' series) UNI SS RN OBB SP GC2156