Heavy overnight rains cripple life in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, relief ops hit in flooded districts
Indian Air Force helicopters carrying food and water packets for the people in the flood-affected Banaskantha and Patan districts, where more than 5000 houses in 800-odd villages are under water, could not take off due to bad weather.
Heavy overnight rains pounded Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in Gujarat throwing life out of gear on Thursday morning, as the death toll touched 129 in the state devastated by heavy flooding since the monsoon rains began a month ago.
The downpour continued in other parts of the state as well affecting relief and rescue operations in worst-hit north Gujarat region where 25 people, including 17 of a family, drowned in floodwaters.
Indian Air Force helicopters carrying food and water packets for the people in the flood-affected Banaskantha and Patan districts, where more than 5000 houses in 800-odd villages are under water, could not take off due to bad weather conditions this morning. So far, more than 50,000 people have been rescued in the two districts.
According to the state disaster control room, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar cities recorded 7 and 8 inches of rainfall over the night, respectively. Four people were injured in rain-related accidents.
With the Met department predicting heavy to very heavy rains in the next 24 hours, the Ahmedabad municipal corporation has advised people to stay indoors.
Most schools and colleges in Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s main city, and district remained closed on Thursday as public transportation was crippled thanks to waterlogged roads. The convocation ceremony of Gujarat University was postponed.
The state government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those who killed in the floods. This will be in addition to the Rs 2 lakh compensation announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Gujarat, Modi’s home state, has been lashed by rains and several of its rivers are in spate after neighbouring Rajasthan opened dams, inundating and cutting off villages particularly in the state’s northern parts.
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