Modi leaves for flood-hit Gujarat for aerial survey

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday left for Gujarat to conduct aerial survey of the flood situation in his home state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday left for Gujarat to conduct aerial survey of the flood situation in his home state.

A man wades through flood waters at an area near River Sabarmati in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, July 25, 2017. The death toll in Gujarat has risen to 70 since the start of the monsoon season, which runs from June through September. (AP Photo)

Modi’s visit comes in the wake of a request from Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The Prime Minister left for Gujarat after the swearing-in ceremony of President Ram Nath Kovind.

Hundreds of people are still waiting to be shifted to safer places, as several parts of these districts are flooded, he said.

Three Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters have been deployed in Banskantha to airlift the stranded locals as well as to distribute food packets. One column of Indian Army was also pressed in to rescue people using boats.

“The rescue operations are going on in full swing as we are taking the help of Army, IAF, BSF, NDRF and local police. Today, we have rescued around 400 people in Banaskantha with the help of three helicopters of the Air Force,” said state health minister Shanker Chaudhary, who is stationed at Deesa to oversee the rescue operations.

Since Tuesday morning, 113 people stranded in Shihori village of the district have been rescued and shifted to safer locations by the Indian Army personnel, who have been conducting the rescue operation using boats, said a release by the Defence PRO.

“One MI-17V5 took off from Deesa this morning and proceeded to Totana village and winched up 14 people stuck in the mist of raging flood water to safety,” Defence PRO Abhishek Matiman said.

The IAF is also air dropping food packets in the affected areas.

“Over 300 kgs of food packets were air dropped at Gugal, Jenal Varan and neighbouring villages to aid the people marooned since yesterday,” he added.

The other places which received very heavy rainfall during the last 24 hours include Patan taluka in Patan district (295 mm), Deodar in Banaskantha (284 mm), Idar in Sabarkantha (282 mm), Dhanera in Banaskantha (275 mm), Himmatnagar in Sabarkantha(230), Saraswati in Patan (217 mm) and Deesa in Banaskantha (210 mm).