Rains in Gujarat claim 82 so far

While the state has received more than normal rain this season, nearly 82 people have lost their lives since June 1 - the day monsoon hit the state.

The maximum casualty from rains has been reported from Jamnagar district.

"Though every day we are getting reports about deaths due to heavy rain, we need to crosscheck the figures to get the exact number of deaths caused by rains. Till now we have received more than 90 death claims and after verification we have found that there are 82 deaths in the state so far," said the sources.

The official further said, "Deaths due to house collapse because of rain, deaths from lightning strike, deaths due to drowning in the flood, deaths from uprooted trees are considered as deaths because of monsoon."

Talking about the districts, which has got maximum casualties, the official said, "Jamnagar has 13 deaths, Junagadh and Bhavnagar districts have eight deaths each, Rajkot and Ahmedabad districts have seven deaths each,
Banaskantha district has six deaths and Amreli has five deaths.

Other districts are having fewer casualties. Family members of all the victims are being given assistance of Rs1 lakh from the chief minister's relief fund."

Earlier the amount of assistance was Rs50,000, which has been increased to Rs1 lakh for past two years.