130 died due to torrential rains & flood like situation in Gujarat

Gujarat has been devastated by torrential rains and severe flooding, resulting in the tragic loss of 130 lives. The incessant rains of the last three days have wreaked havoc across the state, leaving the authorities to deal with the difficult situation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a series of red, orange and yellow alerts for various districts in Gujarat as the region is expected to witness heavy downpours over the next two days. The situation has been aggravated by "extremely heavy isolated rains" being predicted in Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Valsad districts in the next 24 hours.

The calamitous flooding has had severe impacts on transportation, with two national highways, 10 state highways, and 300 rural roads closed due to the deluge. Authorities estimate that traffic will only resume in certain areas once the water recedes. Union Home Minister Amit Shah approached Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to discuss the seriousness of the situation.

Rajkot district, in particular, has been hit hard by the overflow of three major dams, opening up eight of the 29 channels of the Bhadar-1 dam at Jetpur. In response to the rising water level, authorities immediately alerted 22 villages located downstream along the Aji River, which passes through the city of Rajkot.

Meanwhile, the situation in Junagadh district, another badly affected area, has improved somewhat as the floodwaters started to recede. As focus shifts to restoration efforts and clearing mud-covered roads and streets, officials report nearly 3,000 people have been relocated to safer areas since the onset of incessant rains.

In a collaborative effort to address the crisis, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to assist in flood-affected areas of Saurashtra. These teams have facilitated the safe relocation of several hundred residents to secure locations.

Anil Ranavasiya, the district collector, said, “Our main focus now is towards cleanliness in the city. On Sunday, Junagadh district experienced 55mm of rainfall. There was no rain in the city. Three persons, including two women, died due to the downpour.” Ranavasiya further stated that most areas have seen the water recede, and more than 1,100 sanitation workers have started clearing the sludge and garbage from roads. Schools and colleges will open from Monday and Bhavnath Taleti will allow tourists.

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