Toll crosses 100 in Gujarat, 17 of a family found dead

As floodwaters began receding, bodies of 17 members of a family were found in Runi Khariya village of Banaskantha district in Gujarat. According to sources, the death toll in the state reached 107 on Wednesday evening.

The family reportedly drowned in rising floodwaters late on Monday.

On Wednesday, the state government claimed that only 11 new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, while sources put the number at 50, that too in Banaskantha alone.

Sources believe the toll could rise in the coming days, when water starts receding in more places. The bodies found in Runi Khariaya were also found after the water receded.

State Revenue Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, however, on Wednesday said, "Eleven deaths were reported in the past 24 hours. The total number of deaths caused by floods so far is 78, including 58 drowning cases, six electrocutions, and 14 due to serious injuries."

The minister has put the death toll in Banaskantha district at 24 so far.

"We do not have the exact casualty figures. The administration is engaged in rescue and relief work round the clock. Strong winds, water currents, and low visibility due to dense clouds are hampering the rescue work, including airlifting of stranded people," Chudasama added.

Meanwhile, the state government has said compensation will soon be paid to all the affected people. However, there have been uncertainties about the formula to be followed based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on Tuesday.

The PM had announced additional Rs 2 lakh compensation in case of death and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

The state government, as per the rule of relief, gives Rs 4 lakh to the kin of deceased from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF). Sources say after the PM's announcement, the compensation should be Rs 6 lakh in case of death caused by calamities.

Principal Secretary in Revenue Department, Pankaj Kumar, said, "We have to get clarifications from the PMO on the compensation formula — whether compensation from the PM's relief fund will be in addition to the existing ones or will be part of the total compensation as per SDRF rules. We are going to start a survey on Thursday and will start paying compensation to survivors as well."

The total number of displaced people have reached around 53,000 in North Gujarat alone, which includes Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad and Aravalli districts.