At least seven people died in the last 24 hours as heavy rains pounded several parts of south and central Gujarat districts, causing a flood-like situation in many areas while over 9,000 people were relocated and 468 rescued, officials said Monday, 11 July.
In south Gujarat, Dang, Navsari, Tapi, and Valsad districts were affected while the rain-hit districts in central Gujarat are Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur, and Kheda.
In Maharashtra, the state Disaster Management Department indicated that around 83 people have died in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra between 1 June and 10 July, the state disaster management authority said in a report on Monday.
The report said 164 animals, too, have perished during the same period in rain-related incidents.
The Situation in Gujarat
Speaking to reporters, state Disaster Management Minister Rajendra Trivedi said, "Seven persons died in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll due to rain-related incidents like lightning, drowning, wall collapse etc in Gujarat to 63 since 1 June."
He said 18 platoons each of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed at strategic locations for rescue and relief operations as and when required.
A total of 5,278 people in Chhota Udepur district, 2,902 in Navsari, and 469 in Valsad and a few more in other rain-affected districts were shifted from flooded areas to safer places, out of which 3,821 stayed while others returned home after the water receded, he said.
In the last 24 hours, 468 people were rescued, including 327 in Chhota Udepur.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) airlifted to safety 16 people stranded along the flooded banks of the Ambika river in the Valsad district, it said in a release.
Panchmahal, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi and Kheda districts were also affected by heavy rains, an official from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said.
Dediapada, Tilakwada and Nandod talukas in the Narmada district received 448 mm, 272 mm, and 258 mm of rainfall, respectively. Umarpada in Surat recorded 354 mm of rainfall, among others in 12 hours since 6 am on Monday, the SEOC said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heavy to very heavy rainfall was likely to continue over the next five days in Dang, Navsari, Valsad districts, besides other parts of south and central Gujarat and Saurashtra. A red alert has been issued to eight districts in the state.
On Monday, Valsad saw a worsening flood-like situation, as water entered low-lying areas amidst heavy showers. A helicopter was used to rescue around 10 people from a village where they were stranded due to flooding in the Auranga river, revenue official Madhavi Mistry said.
In Ahmedabad, schools and colleges remained shut, and vehicles were seen submerged in city's Prahlad Nagar area.
Due to the widespread rains, 388 roads, including state highways and panchayat roads, were closed. Efforts were on to open them for traffic.
Thirteen dams have been put on 'high alert' and eight on 'alert' as their water level rose due to the heavy showers, it said.
Ahmedabad city received 219 mm downpour on Sunday night, causing water-logging in many residential areas and flooding on underpasses and roads. Several areas in the city inundated, resulting in hardships for commuters.
Narmada and Chhota Udepur districts in central Gujarat, and Surat, Tapi and Valsad in south Gujarat have been badly affected due to the heavy downpour. Meanwhile, a part of a bridge collapsed due to the heavy showers in the Chhota Udepur district, and around 400 people were evacuated from the area.
In Chhota Udepur district, Bodeli taluka recieved 549 mm rainfall and Kwant taluka 432 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period till 6 am on Monday, leading to water entering many areas.
The Uchh and Heran rivers in the district were in spate, and caused flooding in low-lying areas. A total of 5,245 people were evacuated and more than 350 rescued, an official said.
In Bodeli town, river waters entered many residential areas.
Movement of Trains Affected
The movement of four passenger trains and an express train was affected after tracks between Chandod and Ekta Nagar sections were washed away, a Western Railway official said.
Panchmahal, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi, and Kheda districts were also affected by heavy rains, an official from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said.
In all, 218 out of 251 talukas in Gujarat received rainfall in the 24-hour period till 6 am on Monday, it said.
The state has so far received 36 percent of its average annual rainfall, as per the data shared by the SEOC.
PM Modi, Amit Shah Speak to Gujarat CM, Takes Stock of Situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel over the telephone, to take stock of the situation on Monday.
The Public Relations Office (PRO) of the Gujarat CM, said that they "provided full details to Prime Minister Modi about the heavy rains that have lashed out across the state in the last 48 hours, especially in the South and Central Gujarat region and the situation that has arisen as a result of the same."
The CM had held a review meeting with the collectors of six districts of south and central Gujarat on Sunday, directing them to make adequate arrangements for evacuations, as well as ensure supply of food and medical services.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted that he had spoken to the chief minister and assured all possible help from the Union government.
"Regarding the flood-like situation created due to heavy rains in various areas of Gujarat, talked to the Chief Minister Shri @Bhupendrapbjp and assured all possible help from the Modi government. The Gujarat administration, SDRF and NDRF are busy delivering quick help to the affected people," he tweeted.
Maharashtra: 83 Dead in Rain-Related Incidents Since 1 June
In Maharashtra, heavy showers continued to lash Nashik district on Monday, leading river water levels to rise. Forecasting heavy rains, IMD has issued a red alert for Kolhapur, Palghar, Nashik, Pune, and Ratnagiri districts till 14 July. Mumbai, meanwhile, has been put on orange alert for the next three days.
As many as 83 people have died in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra between 1 June and 10 July.
Speaking to PTI, an official said, "The residents of Nashik measure the intensity of flooding by watching the water level around the Dutondya Maruti (two-headed Hanumana) idol situated on the river bed. At present, the water level is a little below the waist of the idol."
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, meanwhile, took to Twitter to state that he along with the state CM Eknath Shinde have left from Mumbai to review the flood situation in Gadchiroli district.
Small Temples Submerged Due to Rising Waters
Meanwhile, rising waters have submerged many small temples located on the bed of the Godavari river, officials said.
Officials said Nashik district is likely to witness very heavy rainfall between 11 and 14 July.
In the last 24 hours, Nashik district received 68.4 millimetres average rainfall, with Surgana receiving the highest rainfall of 238.8 mm, followed by Peth 187.6 mm and Trimbakeshwar 168 mm, an official said. Ghat areas like Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri traditionally get heavy rainfall, but this time Surgana and Peth have also witnessed considerable downpour, he added.
As at 3 pm on Monday, water discharge from Gangapur dam was 10,035 cusecs, while it was 15,088 cusec for Darna, 6,712 cusec for Kadwa and 49,480 cusec for Nandur-Madhyameshwar, he said.
The official said water released from the Gangapur dam, which supplies drinking water to the city, increased the level of the Godavari river.
This led to several small temples in Ramkund area, including the Dashkriya Vidhi canopy getting submerged, he added.
Data from the district administration revealed that cumulative water stock in all the dams was 29,973 million cubic feet (mcft), which is 46 percent of total storage capacity.
It was 55 percent in Gangapur, 67 percent in Darna, 49 percent in Palkhed and 45 percent in Chankapur, the data showed.
The official told PTI that residents of villages along the banks of the Godavari as well as some other smaller rivers have been alerted to the situation, though the water level at present is below the 'danger' mark.
"Smaller rivers in the district like Dindori, Trimbakeshwar, Delaware, Niphad and Ghoti as well as rivulets are overflowing after incessant rains. Several roads near these waterbodies have been closed for traffic as a precautionary measure," the official said.
Rains Lash Delhi, Waterlogging Affects Traffic at Some Areas
Meanwhile, rains lashed the national capital on Monday afternoon bringing much needed respite from the muggy weather conditions that had been prevailing over the last few days.
However, the downpour caused waterlogging at some places in the city leading to traffic snarls.
The Delhi traffic police took to twitter to inform and alert commuters about the congestion and plan their journeys accordingly.
"Traffic is affected on New Rohtak Road in both carriageways due to waterlogging at Anand Parbat T-Point. Kindly avoid the stretch," it said in a tweet.
In another tweet, the traffic police informed that the traffic was heavy at Najafgarh Firni road due to waterlogging and urged them to avoid the stretch.
People look for shelter during monsoon rain in New Delhi, Monday, 11 July.
(Photo: PTI)
(With inputs from Hindustan Times, ANI and PTI.)
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