Heavy downpour claims six lives in Saurashtra region

Rajkot, Sep 18 (UNI) A Heavy downpour that lashed many parts of the Saurashtra region last evening has claimed six lives, reports reaching here said today.

According to official sources, two minor girls were swept away in heavy current of water at Bandhiya village in Jamkandora taluka of the district. The victims - Aarti (5) and her sister Gopi (3)- were with their father Mansukhbhai on a motor-cycle when the vehicle swept away in the gushing water and fell into a rivulet. However, Mansukhbhai managed to save his life but could not trace his two daughters.

In second incident, a father and son were killed when lightning struck them while they were working in the farm at Kamalpur village in Surendranagar district. They were identified as - Premjibhai Bhavanbhai Patel (45) and his son Suresh (25), sources said.

In third incident, an infant drowned at Sukpur village in Jamnagar district.

One Jentibhai and his family members including his infant son Mitesh (2), were returning in a bullock cart to their home from their farm house when the bullock cart overturned in gushing water and fell into rivulet. The infant and bullock were drowned, reports here said today.

One youth drowned in the heavy current of water of Ozat river in Vanthali town of Junagadh district while bathing.

The deceased was later identified as Aashish Bhikhabhai (25).

Meanwhile, Kalyanpur in Jamnagar district recorded 100 mm of rainfall while other parts of the district received rain ranging from 25 to 75 mm, reports said.

Moderate to heavy rainfall was also recorded in some parts of the Junagadh district, reports said.

Many parts of the Porbandar, Kutch, Bhavnagar and Rajkot districts have experienced moderate to heavy rainfall last evening, resulting considerable fall in the temperatures, reports said.

Rajkot city recorded 42 mm of rainfall during last 24 hours, fire brigade sources said.

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