Heavy rains lash several parts of Gujarat, leave 34 dead

Ahmedabad, Jun 24: Heavy rains triggered by a deep depression in the weather system claimed as many 34 lives in Gujarat today.

Saurashtra region was pounded by incessant rains with Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Ahmedabad among the worst-affected districts NDRF, Air Force and SRP teams were pressed into service at Gondal of Rajkot district and in Amreli district to rescue stranded people as many villages have been cut off and electricity supply has been disrupted.

Indian Coast Guard and Air Force rescued 14 crew members of a ship MV Coastal Pride which sunk near Umargaon coast.

As many as 34 people lost their lives today including 23 casualties in the worst affected Amreli district, state relief commissioner D N Pandey told PTI.

"Five people died in Bhavnagar district and two persons died in Rajkot district," Pandey said. Two persons died due to electrocution in Surat city, said Surat district collector Rajendra Kumar adding that the city recorded more than 100 mm rain-fall today.

According to the state control room data, around 1,500 people in Amreli, 4,121 in Rajkot and 100 in Bhavnagar were shifted to safer place from low-lying areas.

Around 60 villages in Amreli district were cut off from rest of state. The situation worsened after waters of Shetrunji river entered surrounding villages.

Villages of Dhari (511 mm), Bagasara (636 mm) and Variyav (400 mm) recorded very heavy rainfall in Amreli district, control room officer Siddiq Beldiwala said.

Around 1,500 people residing in lower areas of the district were evacuated with the help of two teams of State reserve police force (SPRF) along with two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Rajkot district recorded more than 323 mm rainfall in last 24 hours. At least 350 people trapped in areas with heavy water-logging were evacuated from Rajkot city itself.

PTI