Nine more deaths in Gujarat, toll rises to 50

Ahmedabad, July 31 (UNI) Nine more deaths in rain-related incidents were reported from different parts of Gujarat during the last 24 hours, taking the season's toll to 50 so far.

Authorities were busy shifting thousands of people from low-lying areas to safer places. Power supply had been snapped in 511 villages, mostly in central Gujarat, as a precautionary measure, an official spokesman said here today.

The highest rainfall of 330 mm was reported from Morbi taluka in Rajkot district during the last 24 hours, followed by Lakhpat taluka in Kutch district at 243 mm.

Forty-four reservoirs overflowed while 59 filled to 91 per cent capacity. Eleven reservoirs filled between 81-90 per cent and eight others filled above 71 per cent capacity.

The heavy rainfall shifted to Saurashtra and Kutch region with a slight abatement in the rains in Surat, Valsad, Navsari, Vadodara and Anand.

Meanwhile, about 70 school children and a couple of teachers, who were stranded in a boarding house in Khambhat in Anand district, and about 62 agricultural workers in Ganor village near Dholka, who were marooned due to water-logging, were rescued by a fire brigade team.

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