Rain and floods wreaked havoc in several parts of Gujarat, Odisha, and Rajasthan on Wednesday amid warning of heavy downpour across several parts of West Bengal within the next 24 hours. Flood situation in the plains of the Ganga is alarming in UP too.
At least 25 people died in Gujarat and four in Rajasthan due to flood caused by heavy rain. In the worst-hit Banaskantha and Kutch districts approximately 600 villages have been affected. However, as rain stopped on Wednesday afternoon, relief and rescue operation could be initiated in full swing. last month similar situation was witnessed in Saurashtra region (western Gujarat).
As many as 14 NDRF teams and three IAF choppers have been deployed for the relief and rescue operation. Another six NDRF teams have been put on standby. Two columns of the Indian Army from Dhrangdhra cantonment have been sent to north Gujarat and Kutch for rescue work. 180 BSF jawans have joined the operation. According to the State Government various relief teams have already rescued over 250 people and over four lakh food packets have been distributed so far. Besides, 24 mobile medical teams have been pressed into services.
In the last 48 hours till Wednesday morning, 3 to 22 inches of rain was registered in the State following the deep depression created over Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Around 2,500 people were shifted to safer places from Banaskantha, Mahesana, and Patan districts of Gujarat. According to the official sources, more than 1,000 cattle have died in the flood in these districts. Railway tracks near Bhabhar village in Banaskantha district have washed away and the railway authorities have been forced to cancel 20 odd trains.
Gandhinagar too felt the affect as nearly 700 trees uprooted in the past couple of days. Incidents of cave-ins have also been reported in Ahmedabad affecting vehicular traffic.
Meanwhile, four people were killed in rain-related incidents in Jalore district of Rajasthan during the past 24 hours even as flood-like situation continued for the third day in parts of Sirohi district following torrential rain. Four bodies --- two in Nainol, and one each in Data and Jaulasara villages of Jalore district --- have been recovered, a senior district administration official told PTI today.
Traffic was halted on the Mount Abu Road in Sirohi district in the wake of the landslides triggered by heavy rain, a senior traffic official said.
Tourists have been advised to stay on the hill station of Mount Abu till rain abates, he said. The Indian Oil company’s residential area and Gurunanak Colony in Abu Road have been inundated. Residents have evacuated to safer places, he said, adding that a team of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) was called from Udaipur to assist the civil and police administration.
The West Bengal Government has sounded a ‘high alert’ in south Bengal following forecast of strong wind on Thursday coupled with heavy to very heavy rain under the influence of deep depression over Bay of Bengal. “The State Government has taken all precautionary measures and is ready to tackle any situation due to gusty wind and heavy rain. We have already sounded high alert,” State Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee said after reviewing the situation in a meeting.
According to the forecast, a strong northwest to northerly wind at a speed between 55 km and 65 km per hour gusting to 75 km per hour is likely on Thursday.
Meanwhile, with flood situation in northern Odisha districts turning grim, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked officials to evacuate people to safe places. Incessant rain in upper catchment areas has triggered floods in Budhabalang, Baitarani and Subarnarekha rivers and the State Government asked the district administration of Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj to evacuate people to safe places and deploy Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire services personnel for search and rescue operations.
The district administration of Jajpur had already engaged personnel of ODRAF in the flood affected areas. Reviewing the flood situation, Patnaik asked the officials to remain alert round the clock. \
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