Gujarat rains: 16 dead as heavy rain batters Gujarat, PM holds talks with CM

The officials said that the rainrelated incidents claimed nine more lives in Gujarat taking the death toll to 16 in two days while another 8500 people were relocated and rescued from floodaffected areas with Gujarat rains continuing to lash some parts of the state for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday reported news agency PTIAuthorities are carrying out relief and rescue operations involving the National Disaster Response Force NDRF its state counterpart SDRF the Army the Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard while Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to take stock of the situation and to ensure Centres support in the crisis reported PTIRains claim 9 more lives in GujaratA total of nine persons died in rainrelated incidents such as collapse of walls and drowning in different parts of the state on Tuesday an official release said reported PTIOn Monday seven persons died in similar incidents in the stateThree persons died after a wall collapsed in Anand district on Tuesday Two others died in Mahisagar district and one each in Kheda and Ahmedabad districts due to wall collapse incidents One person each drowned in Junagadh and Bharuch district it said reported PTIA total of 169 persons a majority from Kheda and Morbi district were rescued on Tuesday officials said Another 8460 were evacuated and shifted to safer places it said reported PTIThese included around 3000 from Navsari and around 1000 each from Vadodara and KhedaWith this over 15000 people have been evacuated in two days Monday and TuesdayThe death toll in rainrelated incidents has risen to 16 in these two days the officials said reported PTIPM Modi holds talks with CMCM Patel said in a post on X Honble Prime Minister Narendra Modiji had a telephonic conversation with me about the heavy rain situation in Gujarat and got details of the relief and rescue operationsPM Modi provided guidance on protection of lives and livestock and assured all necessary support and assistance from the central government he saidHonble Prime Minister is constantly monitoring the situation by showing concern about Gujarat He has a deep affection in his heart for the people of Gujarat During natural calamities and whenever needed he always stands by Gujarat and the people of the state providing warmth and invaluable guidance Patel addedSeveral districts receive very heavy rainfallSeveral districts of Saurashtra region especially Devbhumi Dwarka Jamnagar Porbandar and Rajkot received very heavy rainfall in 24 hours ending 6 am on Wednesday the State Emergency Operation Centre SEOC data showed reported PTIKhambhalia taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district alone received 454 mm rainfall followed by Jamnagar city with 387 mm rainfall and Jamjodhpur taluka in Jamnagar with 329 mm rainfall reported PTIAs many as 13 out of the states 251 talukas received over 200 mm rainfall and another 39 over 100 mm rainfall during this period throwing life out of gear and inundating lowlying areasWhile Gujarat rains took a pause in Vadodara flooding in Vishwamitri rivers caused several lowlying areas of the city inundated with the NDRF SDRF and other agencies carrying out rescue and relief operationsAs many as five columns of the army were deployed in Morbi Anand Devbhumi Dwarka Rajkot and Vadodara each to carry out relief and rescue operations officials saidAs per an official release 137 reservoirs and lakes and 24 rivers in the state were flowing above the danger marks causing flooding in lowlying areasGujarat rains also disrupted the movement of traffic and trains as roads and railway lines were flooded As many as eight trains including Mumbaibound Vande Bharat Express were cancelled and 10 other trains partially cancelled the Western Railway said in an updateWith the latest spell Gujarat has so far received 105 per cent of its average annual rainfall with Banaskantha being the most raindeficient among all 33 districts Banaskantha has recieved 73 per cent of average annual rainfall the SEOC saidWith inputs from PTI