14 people killed after heavy rains in south Gujarat and Saurashtra; over 31,000 evacuated so far

Ahmedabad Parts of south Gujarat and Kutch-Saurashtra regions received very heavy showers in last 24

Parts of south Gujarat and Kutch-Saurashtra regions received very heavy showers in last 24 hours leaving 14 people dead, while over 31,000 were evacuated so far this rainy season, officials said on July 13.

Three national highways in Kutch, Navsari and Dang districts were blocked due to damage caused by rains. Fifty one State highways and over 400 panchayat roads have also been damaged, State Disaster Management Minister Rajendra Trivedi said.

“Fourteen people lost their lives in the last 24 hours. Nine of the deaths were due to drowning,” he said.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has directed the administration to carry out a survey of the affected districts at the earliest so that people do not have to wait for long for cash and other reliefs to compensate for damages caused due to the rainfall, he said.

In four hours between 6 and 10 a.m. on July 13, parts of Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Dang and Amreli received downpour between 47 mm and 88 mm, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’, predicting heavy rains during the next 24 hours in the districts of Saurashtra and south Gujarat.

Several parts of Kutch, Bharuch, Dang, Navsari and Tapi districts in south Gujarat received very heavy rainfall in the 24-hour period till 6 a.m. on July 13.