Gujarat rains: 15 dead, over 23,000 evacuated amid floods in region

As heavy rains continued to poundIndia's western state Gujarat, 15 people lost their lives, while more than 23,000 were evacuated and over 300 rescued in several districts of Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, called Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to get details of the heavy rain situation and the rescue efforts.

Gujarat's Vadodara has been facing severe floods and waterlogging, as reported by news agency ANI. The District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC) has advised the residents to call them up for assistance in evacuation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a "red alert" for several districts in Gujarat and has predicted heavy rainfall over the next five days.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is further helping the residents to evacuate and has deployed additional teams from the Narmada District to enhance response capabilities.

PM Modi calls Gujarat CM

Earlier today, Gujarat CM shared on X, that he received a call from PM Modi, assuring the city of providing all necessary support and assistance from the central government.

"Hon'ble Prime Minister is constantly monitoring the situation by worrying about Gujarat. He has a deep affection in his heart for the people of Gujarat. During natural calamities and whenever needed, they always stand by Gujarat and the people of Gujarat, providing warmth and invaluable guidance," Bhupendra Patel said on X.

માનનીય પ્રધાનમંત્રી શ્રી @narendramodi જી એ ગુજરાતમાં અતિભારે વરસાદની સ્થિતિને લઈને મારી સાથે ટેલીફોનિક વાતચીત કરીને રાહત-બચાવ કામગીરીની ઝીણવટભરી વિગતો મેળવી હતી.

તેમણે નાગરિકોના જાનમાલ તેમજ પશુધનના રક્ષણ અંગે માર્ગદર્શન પૂરું પાડ્યું હતું. તેમજ, ગુજરાતને કેન્દ્ર સરકાર તરફથી… — Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) August 28, 2024

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel holds meeting

On Tuesday, the Gujarat CM convened a high-level meeting to review the relief and rescue operations. "The Chief Minister instructed the District Collectors to take full vigilance and caution by taking the help of the police so that no one goes into the overflowed rivers, drains and lakes as a result of heavy rains. Apart from this, the Meteorological Department has specially urged the District Collectors of the coastal areas to strictly follow the warning to the fishermen not to venture into the sea," the CM's office posted on X.

Watch | Gujarat Rains: Monsoon claims at least 99 lives in India’s western state

Amid the worsening situation due to bad weather conditions electricity supply has been cut off in 419 villages of Saurashtra-Kutch region, including 196 villages in Jamnagar district, 51 in Surendranagar, 44 in Porbandar, 41 in Rajkot, 39 in Kutch, 32 in Rajkot, 9 in Amreli, 6 in Junagadh and 1 in Bhavnagar.

The local authorities have also announced the closure of schools and colleges on Tuesday as a precautionary measure as heavy rains continue.

(With inputs from agencies)