Heavy rainfall kills 81 in Gujarat

At least 81 people have died in Gujarat over the past four days in the heavy rainfall, which has created flood-like situation in many areas of the state, officials said on Friday.

"Amreli district is the worst hit, with 33 deaths reported in the past 48 hours," an official at the Gujarat disaster management authority in Gandhinagar told IANS.

The meteorological centre in Ahmedabad on Friday forecast moderate to heavy rainfall in the coming days.

"The southwest monsoon has covered the entire Gujarat. Monsoon is active over Gujarat region and vigorous over Saurashtra," an official at the Ahmedabad meteorological centre told IANS.

"Floods too cannot be ruled out at the moment," he added.

Three people died in Bhavnagar district and five each in Rajkot and Bharuch districts lost their lives in the heavy rainfall.

The Gujarat government has announced a compensation of Rs.4 lakh each to the families of those who have perished in the rain and floods.

"We have decided to give a compensation of Rs.4 lakh each to families of all the deceased. In addition, we have also decided to give cash doles for the next ten days to people in affected areas," Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel announced on his official Twitter account.