Due to heavy rain in Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions of the State, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Gujarat postponed till the announcement of new dates.
The Prime Minister was to visit both the regions as well as the State capital Gandhinagar on Friday. Already flood-like situations are prevailing in most parts of Saurashtra and South Gujarat, including Junagadh and Valasad, where Modi was to inaugurate newly constructed civil hospital and housing scheme under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) respectively.
Moreover, the State meteorological department has also forecast heavy rain in the regions till Sunday. Besides, the two events at Junagadh and Valsad, PM Modi was also scheduled to attend convocation ceremony of Gujarat Forensik Science University (GFSU) situated at Sector 9 in Gujarat’s capital.
Confirming the postponement of PM’s visit, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said district administration in Junagadh and Valsad are busy in rescue and relief work as both the district are badly affected due to heavy rain. The Prime Minister was in constant touch with the State administration over the flood situation in Gujarat, said Rupani.
Meanwhile, Rupani cancelled weekly Cabinet meet of his Council of Ministers which generally take place on every Wednesday. He has sent most of the Ministers in flood affected areas to monitor ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Gujarat’s Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel on Wednesday said rescue and relief operation in flood affected areas was going on war footing. Once flooding water would recede, immediately survey on damage would conducted, said Patel, adding that collectors in all flood affected districts have been told to complete survey related work as early as possible in order to provide necessary assistance to affected people.
In the last 24 hours till 3 pm on Wednesday, 140 tehsils of 29 out of 33 districts in the state witness moderate to heavy rains. On an average, 44 per cent rain has been recorded in the State. Besides 20 teams of NDRF, rescue teams of the State Government have joined rescue and relief operation. Nearly 600 people have been rescued from flooding waters in the State and over 4,000 people were shifted from flood-affected areas to safer places. Death toll in current monsoon season has crossed 30 in the State. As per Government records 125 animals died due to flooding water.
Electricity supply was hampered in nearly 570 villages. Of these, power supply has been restored in 467 villages. Work to restore electricity in rest of the villages is going on. Of the 203 major dams in the State, ten have been filled completely.