North Gujarat still under shadow of heavy rain forecast

Palanpur, July 5 (UNI) Even as flood waters slow a receding trend from the affected areas in North Gujarat, the forecast of more heavy rains is haunting the people of this drought prone region.

The water level is still knee-deep in low lying localities. Heaps of garbage still lay around in Palanpur and Patan. Even as almost 300 additional sweepers for Palanpur and 250 for Patan have been requistioned from Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for cleanliness drive to begin from tomorrow, according to Banaskantha District Collector Hareet Shukla.

He said ''Care is being taken to prevent outbreak of water-born diseases.'' Addressing a hurriedly held press conference today, the collector said water has receded from houses except those situated in very low, lying areas.

Meanwhile, in Patan district, ''As many as 105 labourers at Sardar Sarovar Project site at the confluence of Banes and Khari rivers in Masa village, who were stranded since Monday, have now been safely airlifted,'' said acting Collector Vijay Nehra, ''The administration with help of an IAF helicopter reached the place at 1830 hrs on Wednesday and the rescue operation started. As many as 10 swimmers along with a team of SRP and National Disaster Rescue team, headed by a deputy commandant, rescued all of them today at 1230 hrs.

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