Life returns to normalcy in Guj as rain abates; 3 deaths, toll 56

Ahmedabad, Aug 3 (UNI) After facing the onslought of rains for almost a week, which claimed 56 lives so far, besides destroying properties, life is partially returning back to normalcy as rains abated in Gujarat in the past 24 hours.

However, two young girls drowned in Shedi river in Kheda town when a nala-bridge collapsed while they were trying to cross over. A body of one of the victims, Munniben Rakeshbhai Nayak (22), has been fished out by the Nadiad Fire Brigade personnel, while attempts are being made to trace the body of the other girl.

In another incident of drowning, one person died in Tharad lake in North-Gujarat today.

With the death of these three people, the death toll in the current monsoon has gone up to 33 while season's toll is 56 so far, official sources said.

With almost no noticeable rainfall in last 24 hours, the State government today decided to return three helicopters of Indian Air Force, which have been pressed into relief and rescue operations in worst affected Anand, Kheda, Vadodara and other districts of state for past three days.

Sources said, with rainfall between 1-3 inches in just nine talukas of the state in last 24 hours, the situation has improved so rapidly that thousands of people who have moved to safer places as precautionary measure, were shifted back to their homes by the authorities by this evening.

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