Ahmedabad: At least 213 people have died so far in the devastating floods that ravaged north Gujarat districts, even as relief and rescue operations were in full swing following a break in the rain fury. 4225 animals also died after incessant rains caused massive floods in Gujarat, reported a news agency. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani would camp in Banaskantha for five days as the district was the worst affected due to floods.
According to the data provided by the state flood control room, 186 people have died in north Gujarat districts of Banaskantha and Patan due to floods. Of the 186, 61 deaths have been reported from Banaskantha alone. Most of the victims died of drowning. To inspect relief and rehabilitation work in Banaskantha, CM Vijay Rupani said that he would be camping in the district for next five days.
On Sunday, CM Vijay Rupani met the relatives of the 17 people from a family who died in Khariya village of Kankrej taluka. Bodies of 17 members of a family swept away in swirling waters of Banas river were found on Wednesday in Khariya village near Palanpur in north Gujarat’s Banaskantha district. Over 53,000 people have been evacuated since July 21, including 34,043 from worst-affected Banaskantha and Patan districts in north Gujarat, informed Revenue Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.
Three Army columns, 18 National Disaster Response Force teams and 11 of SDRF, along with local administration and fire brigade, had rescued 1,930 persons since July 21. As many as 778 villages in Banaskantha and Patan districts continued to be without electricity. As many as 31 of the 203 dams in Gujarat were filled to the brim, with 41 others holding more than 70 per cent and 131 less than 70 per cent of their capacities.
