Rains lash state, alert sounded in Saurashtra, south Gujarat

After heavy rains lashed Gujarat on Thursday, reports of damage to property and loss of life began to pour in from different parts of the state.

Two people — one in Amreli and another in Bhavnagar district — were electrocuted to death in the last 24 hours. With this, the death toll due to the recent rains in the state rose to 61.

According to officials of the state flood control room, Kutiyana, a village in Porbandar, received around 156 mm of rain on Thursday, the highest ever registered in Saurashtra. Kodinar and Talala talukas in Junagadh district received nearly 350 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has sounded an alert in the coastal regions of Saurashtra and South Gujarat. It has also asked the district administration in the region to be ready for any crisis that may be caused due to heavy rainfall in the coming days.

Chief secretary AK Joti convened a special meeting on Thursday to take stock of the situation. He warned the health, water supply, civil supply and power departments about a possible downpour on Friday.

The district administrations have also been asked to stock up on essentials, especially food, and take steps to prevent an outbreak of water-borne diseases.

Schools and colleges in most parts of Saurashtra remained closed on Thursday because of the heavy rains. “Rain is adversely affecting normal life in Talala. Lack of electricity and food items is further aggravating the crisis,” said a local resident.