Gujarat coping with after effects of floods despite extensive relief work

Porbandar (Gujarat), July 28 (ANI): People in Saurashtra region in Gujarat continued to live as if residing on an island ever since incessant rains have lashed both the coastal and inland areas over the past ten days.

Such a situation prevailed on Monday in Porbandar and Junagadh districts despite the state authorities claiming to have undertaken relief work on a war footing and flushing out water from inundated areas.

Personnel of the National Disaster Management Force (NDMF) were also deputed to rescue the stranded villagers in flood-affected areas. This is in addition to the state government sending para-medical teams to take preventive measures vis-à-vis water-borne diseases and treat those in need.

However, a majority of the residents feel that government has not taken adequate flood relief measures.esidents are relying on boats to fetch their daily needs.

"We have to go out to get our food items for which we have to take the help of boats. No government official has come here to see the gravity of the situation," said Hiren Jaggi, aresident.

"No one has been able to come with any solution and the political parties only come during elections to seek votes and make false promises. Till now no one has come to solve our grievances," said Ramesh, another resident.

Meanwhile, District Collector of Porbandar, M P Parmar, said the floods in Porbandar and other affected areas have been brought under control.

"The municipal authorities of Porbandar and Chayanagar Palika have started their work and we have kept 920 HP water pumps, which takes out 38 lakh litres of water in an hour. Today the situation in Porbandar is under control and we have covered almost all the affected areas successfully," Parmar added.

According to sources heavy rains have led to overflowing of almost all the dams in the Jamnagar region, leading to flooding in the nearby areas.

The water has also inundated the roads, culverts and bridges, disrupting transport and cutting off the region from rest of the state.

Agricultural lands with sown crops have been badly damaged. The overall losses caused by the heavy downpour are estimated to be millions of rupees. (ANI)